With a controlled yet impassioned approach to improvisation, rooted in both the jazz tradition and contemporary sounds, rising saxophonist Nate Spratford brings together past, present, and future in his playing.

Born and raised in Chicago's suburbs, Nate began as a classically trained pianist before picking up the saxophone at age 10, later inspired by Johnny Hodges and John Coltrane. He relocated to Nashville in 2023 to study at Vanderbilt University, quickly making waves in the local jazz scene as a bold improviser and creative artist. Nate has played at Nashville venues such as City Winery, Americano Lounge, Rudy’s Jazz Room, Honeytree Meadery, SoHo House, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and Analog at Hutton Hotel. Through Vanderbilt, he's connected with jazz greats like Wadada Leo Smith, Jonathan Barber, John Fedchock, and Sean Jones, and joined a U.S. Department of State-sponsored jazz tour of Colombia in June 2024. He's performed with Hannibal Lokumbe, Jeff Coffin, Jeff Bradshaw, and Ari Hoenig, while studying under Coffin, Nate Lepine, Lenard Simpson, Eddie Barbash, Bill Evans, and NEA Jazz Master George Coleman.