Of Navajo-Ute heritage, the 11X Grammy nominated R. Carlos Nakai is the world’s premier performer of the Native American flute. He’s sold more than 4.3 million albums and earned two Gold Records. In 2014, Canyon Trilogy reached Platinum (over 1 million units sold), the first ever for a Native American artist performing traditional solo flute music.
In addition to his solo appearances throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan, Nakai has worked with composer Phillip Glass and various symphony orchestras, has received 11 GRAMMY nominations in 4 different categories and earned a Governor’s Arts Award.
Nakai’s career has been shaped by a desire to communicate a sense of Native American culture and society that transcends the common stereotypes presented in mass media.
The R. Carlos Nakai Quartet mixes original compositions with inspired improvisations. The ensemble features R. Carlos Nakai on Native American flutes, concert flute, trumpet and voice; Will Clipman on drums, pan-global percussion and voice; AmoChip Dabney on saxophones, keyboards and voice; and Johnny Walker on bass and voice. The music of RCNQ spans the sonic spectrum from quietly contemplative to highly combustible and from soothingly meditative to irresistibly danceable, always delivered with an impeccable blend of rhythm, melody and harmony and a positive vibration.