Born in Los Angeles, multi-instrumentalist Ted Nash's interest in music started at an early age. Exposed to music and encouraged by his father, trombonist Dick Nash, and uncle, reedman Ted Nash - both well-known studio and jazz musicians - the younger Nash started playing the piano when he was seven. By the time he turned 12, he had started playing the clarinet; a year later the obviously talented Nash had picked up the alto sax. In high school Nash had the good fortune to study jazz improvisation with Charlie Shoemake