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Josh Nelson

Pianist and composer Josh Nelson maintains an active and creative schedule. He has performed with some of the most respected names in jazz, including Natalie Cole, Anthony Wilson, George Mraz, Jeff Hamilton, Walter Smith III, Dayna Stephens, Alicia Olatuja, Eddie Daniels, Ken Peplowski, Richard Galliano, Michael Buble, Benny Golson, Sheila Jordan, Greg Hutchinson, John Clayton, Seamus Blake, Matt Wilson, Sara Gazarek, Dave Koz, Joe Chambers, Kurt Elling, John Pizzarelli, and Lewis Nash.

Josh has performed around the world and recorded for numerous albums, films, and TV shows, but also makes time for his own projects: "Anticipation" (2004) and "Let it Go" (2007, Native Language Music) both garnered international critical acclaim. Josh’s third album, "I Hear a Rhapsody" (2009), featured his original compositions, standard interpretations, and re-imagining of some popular repertoire. "Discoveries" (2011), introduced a pairing of classic science fiction ephemera with new compositions for a brass and wind ensemble (featuring a live ongoing video projection and art installation component as well, called The Discovery Project). "Exploring Mars"(2015) explored musical themes on the Red Planet, along with spectacular NASA/JPL Martian video footage. "Dream in the Blue" (2016) documented Josh in an intimate duo setting with his longtime collaborator, vocalist Sara Gazarek. "The Sky Remains" (2017) delved into musical stories and themes originating from his hometown of Los Angeles. "The Discovery Project Live in Japan" (2020) is a live trio album, and received wonderful reviews. His latest release will drop in September of 2021, "live at bluewhale | Volume 1", It's a sentimental tribute to an amazing venue in Los Angeles which was forced to closed during the pandemic.

Josh has earned many awards, scholarships and accolades over the years, some of which include the Louis Armstrong Award and the John Philip Sousa Award. In 2006, Josh was one of only twelve semi-finalists in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition.

Josh toured the world for 6 beautiful years with the legendary vocalist Natalie Cole. He continues to tour with artists Nicolas Bearde, Kenny Washington, Lorca Hart, Anton Schwartz, Allison Adams Tucker, Kathleen Grace, Gaby Moreno, Alicia Olatuja, Tom Scott, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Christian Howes.

Awards

Louis Armstrong Award, John Philip Sousa Award, numerous "Outstanding Soloist Awards" at music competitions from around the country. $10,000 Tom Talbert Scholarship. Josh has also been a member of many honor groups, including the SCSBOA Honor Jazz Band, the SCSBOA All- Stars, and the Grammy Band. Josh was one of only 12 semi-finalists in the prestigious International Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition which was held in Washington D.C. in 2006.

Gear

Yamaha S-400B, Nord (Clavia) Electro 2, 3

Nancy Erickson Lamont: Through the Passages

Read "Through the Passages" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello

by Nicholas F. Mondello
May 16, 2024

On occasion with so many artists presenting recordings, a reviewer may innocently fall into the trap of bypassing a jewel by an unfamiliar singer. Such was the case here. The subsequent discovery was fortuitous. Seattle-based vocalist and composer, Nancy Erickson Lamont's Through the Passages is a thoroughly fascinating, absorbing 12-original-track session with the artist surrounded by an A-1 crew of the Pacific Northwest's best. It is undoubtedly a pearl of a find. “Tick Tock" opens the date ...

Album Review

Lori Bell: Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson

Read "Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
May 3, 2024

The exceptional tenor saxophonist and composer Joe Henderson, who passed in 2001, recorded three premium-grade tribute albums: Lush Life: The Music Of Billy Stayhorn (1992), So Near, So Far (Musings For Miles) (1993) and Double Rainbow: The Music Of Antonio Carlos Jobim (1995), all on Verve. But in the decades since Henderson left us, tributes to him have been practically non-existent, not to mention unremarkable. San Diego-based flautist Lori Bell's sizzling Recorda Me: Remembering Joe Henderson is the first substantial ...

Album Review

Julie Kelly: Freedom Jazz Dance

Read "Freedom Jazz Dance" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello

by Nicholas F. Mondello
March 24, 2024

Freedom Jazz Dance from Los Angeles singer, Julie Kelly offers an interesting array of selections that emanate from that musical road less traveled. And, as in life, sometimes that road yields nuggets of delight that would most likely never make it to the tried and “true way." Peter Nero and Carroll Coates' “New York on Sunday" opens things and is a lilting snap on 2 and 4 groove with Kelly joyously covering it and Josh Nelson slickly ...

Album Review

Doug MacDonald: Sextet Session

Read "Sextet Session" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
March 22, 2024

Guitarist Doug MacDonald records albums like someone who is either making up for lost time or does not have much time to spare. According to his discography, Sextet Session is at least the thirty-second album MacDonald has led or co-led, almost half of which have been released in the past couple of years or so. To keep things fresh, MacDonald has performed with almost every size group from big band to duo, but not often with as sharp and experienced ...

Album Review

Judy Whitmore: Come Fly with Me

Read "Come Fly with Me" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
February 6, 2024

When the multi-talented Judy Whitmore sings “Come Fly with Me," it is an invitation that is almost impossible to resist, especially as the lovely and charming vocalist is also a pilot who is licensed to fly anything from jets to seaplanes to hot air balloons. On her latest album, backed by a big band and twenty-six member string section with arrangements by Hollywood top gun Chris Walden, Whitmore beckons listeners to fly with her to romantic places around the world ...

Album Review

Ann Hampton Callaway: Finding Beauty. Originals. Volume 1

Read "Finding Beauty. Originals. Volume 1" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
January 9, 2024

"This is my most personal record," Callaway says. “Throughout my career, I've loved singing the great jazz classics and selections from the Great American Songbook, but I've always snuck my original songs on various projects. The pandemic made me think, 'I don't know if I'll live through this, but if I do, what's at the top of my bucket list?' And I realized that I wanted to tell my story and share the deepest part of me. What better way ...

Liner Notes

Jun Iida: Evergreen

by Gary Fukushima
January 5, 2024

They are everywhere, dotting the undulating terrain of the great Pacific Northwest, from the winding, twisting shorelines of Puget Sound to the mountains that rise in the distance in every direction: the Olympics to the west, the Cascades to the east, Mt. Baker to the north and the majestic Rainier to the south. The trees are a constant, comforting blanket over this land, ever-present, ever-green. Jun lida has called this place home for the past three years, another ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Josh Nelson

Source: Michael Ricci
August 1, 2023

All About Jazz is celebrating Josh Nelson's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Josh Nelson

Source: Michael Ricci
August 1, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating Josh Nelson's birthday today!

Recording

Pianist And Composer Josh Nelson Releases 'Live At Bluewhale | Volume 1'

Source: Josh Nelson
August 16, 2021

Highly acclaimed pianist and composer Josh Nelson’s latest release, Live at bluewhale, Volume 1 features recordings from his “Discovery Project” live shows, and a heartfelt tribute to Bluewhale jazz club in downtown Los Angeles, California. Live at bluewhale, Volume 1 is a compilation of sentimental and bittersweet recordings from Josh Nelson’s Discovery Project concerts originally performed at the Bluewhale jazz club, located in the heart of Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles. Founded in 2009 by Korean visionary and musician ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Josh Nelson

Source: Michael Ricci
August 1, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating Josh Nelson's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Josh Nelson

Source: Michael Ricci
August 1, 2020

All About Jazz is celebrating Josh Nelson's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Josh Nelson

Source: Michael Ricci
August 1, 2019

All About Jazz is celebrating Josh Nelson's birthday today!

Place our Musician of the Day widget ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Josh Nelson

Source: Michael Ricci
August 1, 2018

All About Jazz is celebrating Josh Nelson's birthday today!

Place our Musician of the Day widget ...
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Website

All About Jazz Top 10 MP3 Downloads: September 2017

Source: All About Jazz
October 1, 2017

All About Jazz features a free song every day spanning all genres of jazz, and of the 30 tracks featured in September, these ten represent our personal favorites. We also included the top ten reader favorites as indicated by total downloads. Musicians and record labels can submit full length MP3s for consideration here. Enjoy! EDITOR'S PICKS Bridges and Tunnels 6:08 Josh Nelson From: The Sky Remains The Group of 7 3:18
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Josh Nelson

Source: Michael Ricci
August 1, 2017

All About Jazz is celebrating Josh Nelson's birthday today!

A native of Southern California, Josh Nelson maintains a busy schedule as a live jazz pianist, composer/arranger, educator, and recording artist. At 37 years old, he has made a strong impression on the jazz and songwriting scene on the West Coast. Josh has performed with some of the most respected names in music, including Natalie Cole, Ralph Moore, Lewis Nash, Richard Galliano, Christian McBride, Greg Hutchinson, Ben Williams... Read more.

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Event

Acclaimed Pianist/Composer Josh Nelson’s "Discovery Project” Featured On NPR's Jazz Night In America, Airing Nationwide Beginning February 23

Source: Mouthpiece Music
February 16, 2017

Pianist Josh Nelson will be featured in NPR’s Jazz Night in America as they head to La La Land to get the real story of what it really takes to be a jazz musician in the City of Angels. Jazz Night in America is a nationally syndicated weekly radio show and a weekly concert video webcast from venues across the country produced by WBGO. The web site (which is part of the NPR site) is a hub for video features, ...
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“Josh is that rare young musician who has not only a wealth of study and experience under his belt (all but assuring him a prominent place in jazz music), but he also possesses those rarest of musical attributes: a touch, a tone, and a “sound” that are all identifiably his own.” — Peter Erskine, legendary drummer

“Wonders never cease here, as Nelson's imagination carries us to unexpected places and uncovers topics and stories hidden in the mists and mortar of Los Angeles... he paints subtle gestures, sophisticated thoughts, and broad strokes…the end result is a work that speaks to an arranger's mind, a songwriter's sensibility, and a historian's eye… It's more than enough to keep the mind and emotions busy and happy.” —All About Jazz

“An impressionistic musical look at facets of L.A., this will open your ears to a jazzy, L.A. you probably never considered.” – Midwest Record

Jazz Review January 2008 By Paul J. Youngman

"A debut of magnificence, Nelson is a talented young composer and pianist, someone to keep a close eye on."

"Nelson distinguishes himself as a first-rate player and composer with a fresh, wholly personal take on the music." - Bill Milkowski

Downbeat January 2008 Reviewed by James Hale

Los Angeles-bred pianist Josh Nelson has his heart firmly on his sleeve for much of his debut recording, planting six yearning ballads in the center of Let it Go and using the plaintive timbre of Seamus Blake's tenor for maximum effect.

A player with strong stylistic links to Brad Mehldau and Ethan Iverson, Nelson also gets tremendous support from drummer Matt Wilson, who masters the tricky rhythmic feel of "Loose End" and adds casual waltz-time anarchy in the background of the Beach Boys' obscure "Tears in the Morning." As his choice of the Sunflower nugget illustrates, Nelson has a finely tuned ear, which shows itself again in his inclusion of the pretty standard "Love Letters" and Ben Wendel's "Julia." His own "Leaving Here" is less effective, despite a pleasant guest vocal by Sara Gazarek.

Interesting territory exists beyond the dominant balladic material, too. "Introspection on 401" surges past ethereal introspection on the back of a brawny Blake solo, and closing title track pairs Wilson's slamming drums against a cyclical theme.

All About Jazz allaboutjazz.com Jakob Bækgaard December 9, 2007 "This is not only an outstanding debut, it's one of the best releases of the year."

JazzTimes December 2007 Reviewed by Forrest Dylan Bryant

Josh Nelson establishes a clear identity in the six original tunes that anchor this album. Balancing tenderness with fortitude and quite reflection with an open, gracefully uplifting quality, Nelson's rich, inventive piano rolls and skips through vigorously flowing melodies and gently placed harmonic interactions. Saxophonist Seamus Blake catches the updraft , flying above the thumping title track and the bewitching "Introspection on 401," while vocalist Sara Gazarek delivers and aching performance on Nelson's "Leaving Here," a stirring song of loss.

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