Page, Nathen

Guitarist. Born August 23, 1937 in Leetown, West Virginia; died March 8, 2003. [Page’s first name is frequently misspelled as Nathan and sometimes worse.]

Brother Henry was a drummer. The family’s only exposure was to country music. Began playing piano and then guitar at age 9. Served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957. Met drummer Rufus ‘Speedy’ Jones during basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina in 1955 and was introduced to jazz.

Following his discharge he moved to Washington, D.C. and played with Bill Doggett, Buck Hill, Joe Chambers, Garland Butts, George Botts, and others. In 1965 Page was recommended to join Jimmy Smith’s trio by drummer Billy Hart and he remained with Smith until 1970.

He was leading his own jazz groups in Washington by 1969. In 1970 and 1971 he worked with Herbie Mann and Roberta Flack. With Jackie McLean (1972-1973), Doug Carn (1973, 1976) Sonny Rollins (1975), Rene McLean (1976), Charles Tolliver (1977). He occasionally performed on electric bass, such as with John Malachi in 1979. He was a member of the African Jazz Ensemble, which presented an educational program on the history of black music to D.C. public schools in 1973.

Between 1977 and 2000 Page issued ten recordings on his own label, Hugo’s Music.

• Page 1
• “Free (Not Really)” / “Knapp Time” (45 rpm single)
• Page 2
• Plays Pretty for the People
• Page-ing Nathen
• A Page of Ellington
• The Other Page
• Live at Pinkie Lee’s
• Season’s Greetings
• Thinking of You