Nathan Nakadegawa-Lee, Kaz George, Isaac Coyle & Miles Turk

Two Oakland tenor saxophonists join forces for an evening of original and arranged compositions spanning jazz, blues, and free improvisation. Nathan Nakadegawa-Lee brings his big, warm tone rooted in classic tenor saxophone tradition — influenced by luminaries like Dexter Gordon and John Coltrane — along with compositions that bridge vintage sounds with contemporary forms. The New School graduate has performed internationally at venues from Tokyo to the Bern Jazz Festival, and locally at Yoshi's and The Stone in New York.

Kazemde George adds his distinctive voice shaped by African diaspora musical traditions. The Harvard neurobiology graduate and New England Conservatory alumnus studied traditional music in Havana, Cuba, and channels these influences through post-bop and Afro-Cuban jazz frameworks. His 2021 debut album I Insist on Greenleaf Music showcases his gift for streamlined melodies and cultural exploration through sound.

The rhythm section features two rising stars of the Bay Area scene: bassist Isaac Coyle, a 2023 Berklee graduate who frequently collaborates with Grammy-winner Terri Lyne Carrington's New Standards band, and drummer Miles Turk, who grew up in San Francisco's jazz community and performs regularly at major venues including Yoshi's Oakland. Both bring the precision and swing that keeps this music grounded while allowing space for the saxophonists' explorations.

Expect an evening that moves fluidly between swinging post-bop, blues-inflected ballads, and moments of free improvisation. Nakadegawa-Lee is known for his community organizing through house shows and improvisation nights, suggesting this performance may capture some of that collaborative, experimental spirit that defines Oakland's creative music scene.