About Nathan…
Nathan Borton is a Colorado-based jazz guitarist rooted in the rich traditions of Midwestern bebop and blues, with origins tracing back to Wichita, Kansas. A dynamic performer and recording artist, Borton has shared stages and studios with luminaries like Rodney Whitaker, Michael Dease, Janis Siegel, and Diego Rivera, and has graced prestigious festivals nationwide, including the Detroit Jazz Festival, Five-Points Jazz Festival, and Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival.
In 2022, he released his critically acclaimed debut album, Each Step (OA2 Records), produced by Randy Napoleon. Praised by icons like Michael Dease and Howard Paul, the album soared into JazzWeek’s Top 100 radio charts, cementing his place among jazz’s rising stars. Some of Borton’s accolades include three DownBeat Awards (Best Engineering/Production, 2023; Best Graduate Jazz Soloist and Live Engineering/Production, 2019), the 2020 Paul Carr Discovery Act Award with the Sencalar/Glassman Quintet, and back-to-back honors at the Wilson Center International Guitar Competition (2018 Finalist, 2019 Top 3 Winner).
An impassioned educator, Borton is pursuing his Doctorate at the University of Northern Colorado. He has taught at Aquinas College, Hope College, and Michigan State’s Community Music School, while mentoring at renowned programs like the Brevard Jazz Institute and Spectrum Music Camp. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched a YouTube channel that blossomed into a global jazz education hub with over 30K subscribers and 2.5 million channel views, collaborating with elite educators such as Jens Larson and Christiaan Van Hemert to inspire students worldwide.
-Nathan is a proud endorser of Benedetto Guitars and Stringjoy Strings.
“Borton makes being a hip, swinging, soulful guitar player, relevant again.”
-MICHAEL DEASE
“Nathan is a rare talent who has mastered jazz pedagogy, technique, tone and that oh-so-hard-to-capture feel that makes him a complete guitarist. Nathan is exactly the kind of young guitarist that Benedetto seeks to usher in the next generation jazz guitarist.”
-HOWARD PAUL
“Nathan has the patience and maturity of a player many years his senior. His phrasing is excellent and he isn’t afraid to let his beautiful tone ring out. The future of this music is in good hands if Nathan is any indication.”
-XAVIER DAVIS
EXPERIENCE
University of Northern Colorado — Greeley, CO — Doctorate Teaching Assistant: Teaches Applied Jazz Lessons and Combos, Festival Coordinator for J.E.N Student Board, Recording Assistant with Socrates Gracia. 2022-25
Hope College — Holland, MI — Jazz Guitar Professor: Taught Applied Lessons, Guitar Methods Class, Jazz and Latin Jazz Combos. 2020-22
Saint Thomas Aquinas College — Grand Rapids, MI — Jazz Guitar Professor: Taught Applied Lessons, Yearly Jazz Summer Camp. 2019-22
Michigan State University Community Music School — Detroit, MI — Jazz Guitar Faculty: Taught Group Lessons, Transcription Class, and Combos. 2021-22
HIGHLIGHTED RECORDINGS
Technocats: The Music of Gregg Hill — Featuring: Xavier Davis - Piano, Javier Enrique - Bass, Micheal Reed - Drums, Chris Glassman - Bass Trombone. August 2023.
Nathan Borton — Each Step, Featuring: Xavier Davis - Piano, Rodney Whitaker - Bass, Keith Hall - Drums, Diego Rivera - Tenor Saxophone, Chris Glassman - Bass Trombone. January 2022.
Sencalar/Glassman Quintet — The Solitude Sessions, Altin Sencalar - Tenor Trombone, Chris Glassman - Bass Trombone, Nathan Borton - guitar, Addison Frei - paino, Luther Allison - paino, Brandon Rose - bass, Zachary Adleman - drums
EDUCATION
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO — Doctor of Music and Arts (DMA) 2022-Present
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI — Master of Music (MM) 2017-2019
Friends University, Wichita, KS — Bachelor of Music (BM) 2011-2016
Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA — Completed multiple semesters of course work 2014-15
APPEARANCES WITH
Rodney Whitaker Debut record ‘Each Step’ and Sencalar/Glassman performances and recordings
John Webber Lisa Sung’s ‘Half Moon’ and Live Performances
Diego Rivera Debut record ‘Each Step’ and Diego Rivera Quartet
DISTINCTIONS
Endorsing Artist, Stringjoy Guitar Strings, Nashville, TN. 2024-25
Endorsing Artist, Benedetto Guitar, Savannah, GA. 2020-25
Endorsing Artist, Origin/OA2 Records, Seattle, WA. 2021-25
3rd Place Winner, Wilson Center International Guitar Competition, Milwaukee, WI 2019
Paul Carr Discover Act Winner, with Sencalar/Glassman Quintet
Downbeat Student Artist Award, “Outstanding Performance-Jazz Soloist” 2019