Nathan's Fearless Five is a high school jazz band founded at Carlmont High School in October 2021, when Nathan was a freshman. Four upperclassmen from the school's jazz big band readily joined Nathan in his effort to raise funds for the New Orleans Musicians Clinic, a non-profit dedicated to supporting musicians and culture-bearers without adequate medical insurance. The debut benefit concert raised $1,800 for the NOMC. Just two months after its inception, the Fearless Five began performing regularly at the Old Skool Cafe, a non-profit, 1920s speakeasy-themed jazz restaurant that provides job training, employment, and a second chance at life for formerly incarcerated and foster youths aged 16-22. In December 2022, the band achieved another significant milestone by being named the first "Musicians in Residence" at the Palo Alto Rinconada Library. Since then, the Fearless Five have captivated diverse audiences—from toddlers to the elderly—every 4th Saturday in the library's Embarcadero Room with classic tunes of Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington, etc. Another exciting milestone for the Fearless Five came in April 2024 when they performed at the Jazzaffair Festival in Three Rivers, CA. This marked the first time in the festival's 49-year history that a youth band was invited. Moreover, they have already been invited back to perform as one of the headliner bands in 2025. Additionally, the Fearless Five is proud to be the only student-led small combo invited to play at KCSM 91.1 FM's Jazz on the Hill Festival in June 2024. Following their recent National Night Out performance on August 6, 2024, in Alexander Park, Belmont, the Fearless Five received an invitation from the Belmont City Council to perform at the city's 100th anniversary celebration in 2026—a testament to their growing reputation and community impact. On August 8, 2024, the band entered Tritone Productions Recording Studio in Oakland to record their upcoming album, Memories of You, in celebration of three years of music-making, growth, and friendship. In addition to these engagements, the Fearless Five actively participates in a variety of community events, including performances at senior living centers and jazz educational programs. For more information on both upcoming and past performances, please visit the Calendar page. Why was the band named the "Fearless" Five? The music director at Carlmont High School did not approve the band's efforts to organize a lunchtime live concert, intended to raise funds for the New Orleans Musicians Clinic through a video afterward. The band was not permitted to rehearse in the band room after school, even with a teacher’s supervision, nor were they allowed to set up during the flex period before the concert or use school music equipment. Instead, the band rehearsed on a member's front porch and sought guidance from a professional musician. Fortunately, they soon found unwavering support from Carlmont's ASB (Associated Student Body), which made the fundraising concert possible. Without ASB's backing, the band might never have been formed. The concert marked the first time live music was performed in the school’s "Quad" and was very well attended by both students and teachers. It immensely lifted the spirits of the school community and brought joy to many amidst the ongoing pandemic. The positive feedback after the concert was overwhelming. The band was named "Fearless" in recognition of its determination to stage its first concert despite the countless hurdles encountered. Since then, social justice and community engagement have become the band's mission.