A Detroit native, Nina Ott grew up in a musical family and began playing piano at age seven. Music was always an important part of life growing up in Detroit. Early on Nina was able to pick things out by ear. She was curious about all aspects of music. She loved singing in choirs as well as playing the piano. This fascination and passion for music has never left her.

Before dedicating herself to jazz and improvisation, Nina trained classically as a pianist, earning a scholarship and degree in classical piano performance. A love for improvisation and jazz lead her to change her musical course and move to the east coast to be closer to the center of jazz music. She very frequently attended live shows in Boston and NYC hearing masters such as Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Hank Jones, Mulgrew Miller, Tony Williams, Billy Higgins, Cedar Walton and Herbie Hancock. These musicians remain essential influences for her to this day.

Nina eventually moved to Chicago for a few years playing as a house pianist at the Green Mill Midnight Jam Session where she met the top jazz players. In Chicago she did steady solo piano work as well as working in clubs with musicians such as George Fludas, Jeff Parker, Robert Barry, John Whitfield, Pat Mallinger, Ari Brown, Red Holt and many more.

Latin Jazz and Salsa came into Nina’s life while living in Providence RI when she had the opportunity to play in trumpeter Carlos De Leon’s band. To learn the rhythms, Nina studied percussion and the music became an important piece of her musical life. She has since played with John Calloway, Louis Romero, Jesus Pagan Orchestra and currently leads her own Latin/Funk Collective, Descargadelic.