Nathan, a performing and recording guitar and bass player, started playing guitar with the inspiration and guidance from his Dad at the age of 9. Since then he has participated in numerous school band programs ranging from elementary to high school. After years of practice, and awarded a full scholarship, Nathan attended Wayne State University, graduating in 2002, with a bachelors in Jazz Performance. At Wayne State he studied under Chris Collins and Steve Carryer.
While in college Nathan became a member of the teaching staff at Gus Zoppi Music Center located in Sterling Heights, Michigan from 1994-2005 where he taught guitar and bass lessons to student from ages 4-64 in a variety of musical styles including jazz, fingerstyle, blues, rock and everything in between. Over the past 20 years of teaching his students been received many performance awards, professional successes and college scholarships. In January 2010 Nathan returned to Gus Zoppi’s as a private instructor and is currently taking new students. He is there Monday thru Thursday from 4-8. If you are interested in taking lessons at Zoppi’s you can call (586) 978-1816 to find out current availability.
Nathan was the director of the guitar program at Arts Academy in the Woods from 2003-2010. AAW is a tuition free public high school located in Fraser, MI. He was brought in to take the program from a lunch period student pass time to an official class and subject major with up to 6 classes daily including guitar levels 1-4 and Bass. During his tenure there Nathan taught guitar and bass, hosted weekly performance assemblies and arranged regular student concerts. Also during his time at AAW he co-founded BAM Marketing, The Woods Concert Series and AMP (Arts Academy Music Parents Group). BAM put together a new image for AAW including a 10 minute video tour and 30 second commercial. The Woods was a bi-monthly concert series that brought in bands from around the Metro-Detroit area to raise money for the band program. AMP, is a group of parents who have students participating in the AAW instrumental or vocal programs, that work together on events to raise money for and promote the music program at AAW.
As a solo artist, Nathan has released two instrumental acoustic guitar cd’s, For Your Ears Only, 2-5 Jive and has a third CD in the works. His passionate and aggressive style of playing that makes every performance musically and visually brilliant! Influenced by an array of musicians, he has fused many styles including blues, funk, jazz, rock, and fingerstyle to create an original sound. The music is polyphonic; including melody, harmonic progressions, bass lines, as well as percussion all performed simultaneously.
Over the years some of the most significant influences are Stevie Ray Vaughn, Tuck Andress, John Scofield, Pat Martino, Preston Reed, Don Ross, Charlie Hunter, Stanley Jordon, Victor Wooten, Jaco Pastorius, Djangto Reinhard, Wes Montgomery, and Charles Mingus.
Nathan Montgomery has performed live instrumental acoustic guitar as well as with a wide range of music groups and styles including Groovelation- Jazz/Funk/Fusion, The Fringe- Rock, Wishbone- Rock, Saoco– Latin Jazz/Salsa, Grace and the guys- Jazz, Rhythm Society Orchestra– big band/swing, The Cary Heller Quintet- Jazz, 45th Parallel- pop and many many more. Currently he is playing with several projects including Naia Musica: vibrant jazz, r&b, pop and a few others. His favorite styles to play include: Jazz Guitar, Percussive Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar, Latin Bass, Funk Bass