Eric Nakanishi is an aspiring artist, saxophonist, and composer who was raised in Pleasant Hill, California. He began playing saxophone at age 9 in his local elementary school music program and soon began studying privately under the instruction of saxophonist and educator Marcus Goodlow, who would become the first of many important educators and mentors in Eric’s life. During his early years, Eric was lucky enough to study with some of the Bay Area’s finest musicians and educators including Mary Fettig, Dann Zinn, and Alex Murzyn. His musical path and experiences eventually led Eric to his undergraduate studies at Berklee College of Music.
During his time in Boston, Eric had the opportunity to be mentored and instructed by a number of accomplished and renowned artists, such as Frank Tiberi, George Garzone, Terence Blanchard, Shamie Royston, Dave Santoro, Tiger Okoshi, Billy Kilson, and Jim Odgren, to name a few. Eric was particularly blessed and honored to have been mentored by the late Ralph Peterson Jr., whose goal was to immerse his students in the music of Art Blakey and pass on the legacy of the Jazz Messengers. Eric played lead alto in Peterson’s “Gen-Next Big Band” and recorded two albums with the group: I Remember Bu: Alive Vol.4 at Scullers and Listen Up!, which featured Jazz Messenger alumni Donald Harrison and Frank Lacy.
Eric’s hard work and practice did not go unnoticed as he continued to receive awards and recognition from the Downbeat Student Music Awards, National YoungArts Foundation, PDX Jazz Forward Competition, Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition, Eastman Winds’ Perform with Mintzer Competition, and Yamaha’s Young Performing Artists Competition.
After leaving school, Eric recorded his debut album, Introducing, at Chillhouse Studios in Boston. Released in April 2020, this debut album features all original compositions brought to life by an incredible band of colleagues and friends from Berklee. Shortly after the recording, Eric returned from Boston to the San Francisco Bay Area. In November 2021, he recorded his second album, released May 2022. Breakout! Nakanishi Quartet Live at Bird & Beckett is a live record featuring a chordless quartet made up of outstanding Bay Area musicians and friends. This special recording and performance included a simultaneous live-painting of the album’s cover artwork by Eric’s father, artist John Nakanishi. Eric currently resides in Tucson, Arizona where he performs regularly with the Century Room Jazz Orchestra. He’s currently working on his next album featuring some of the best jazz musicians Tucson has to offer.