Home » Jazz Musicians » Steve Nelson

Steve Nelson

This outstanding vibraphonist and composer was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Rutgers University with both Masters and Bachelors degrees in music and his teaching activities have included a position at Princeton University. As a resident of the New York area he has performed and recorded with many great musicians including Kenny Barron, Bobby Watson, Mulgrew Miller, David Fathead Newman, Johnny Griffin and Jackie McLean.

He has appeared at concerts and festivals worldwide and has made three recordings as the leader of his own group. His recordings as a leader include Live At Acireale (Red Records), Full Nelson (Sunnyside) and Communications (Criss Cross). Recordings with others include Mulgrew Miller, David "Fathead" Newman, Kenny Barron, Jackie McLean and Johnny Griffin.

Tags

28
Album Review

Tomas Janzon: Nomadic

Read "Nomadic" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Nomadic, Tomas Janzon's sixth album as leader, is a pleasant, easy-going session that benefits greatly from the presence, on half a dozen tracks, of the superb vibraphonist Steve Nelson who adds substance and color to what is essentially a quartet or trio session wherein Janzon's mellow guitar carries much of the weight. There are eleven tracks in all, the first four and last four by Janzon, separated by McCoy Tyner's tranquil “Search for Peace," Sonny Rollins' no-more-than-lukewarm ...

4
Liner Notes

David Hazeltine: Inversions

Read "David Hazeltine: Inversions" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


It's often said that those with enviable skills make the most sophisticated actions look easy. Be it glass blowing or ice-skating, what appears to be within the grasp of the novice often involves an underlying complexity not readily apparent at first. The same could be said of higher forms of music such as classical and jazz. What might seem simplistic or straightforward on the surface, actually involves a highly refined degree of mastery that's akin to a magician's flick of ...

30
Album Review

Louis Hayes: Crisis

Read "Crisis" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Louis Hayes--who has been a force in jazz drumming for more than sixty years, anchoring legendary groups led by Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderley, Oscar Peterson, John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins, among others--has assembled a quintet of New York City's finest for Crisis, wherein he pays musical tribute to some of his jazz colleagues, past and present, including Freddie Hubbard, Joe Farrell, Lee Morgan, Bobby Hutcherson and two members of his working unit, vibraphonist Steve Nelson and bassist Dezron Douglas.

1
Album Review

Falkner Evans: Marbles

Read "Marbles" reviewed by Jack Bowers


On his fifth recording as leader, pianist / composer Falkner Evans has expanded his group size from trio (the first three) and quintet (the fourth) to sextet with vibraphonist Steve Nelson added on three of the album's ten numbers, the first nine of which were written by Evans. Even though this was a one-off, Evans' teammates are skillful enough to make it sound like a working ensemble. One reason for this is that the rhythm section (bassist Belden Bullock, drummer ...

4
Album Review

Falkner Evans: Marbles

Read "Marbles" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Pianist Falkner Evans has been gradually expanding the size of his recording projects. He started out with a couple of trio discs, then made one with a quintet. On this latest offering, he fronts a three-horn sextet scored to sound like a bigger and fuller unit. He uses a front line of Michael Blake on tenor sax, Ted Nash on alto sax and Ron Horton on trumpet, that is blended into a cool, reedy sound which ebbs and ...

253
Album Review

Steve Nelson: Sound-Effect

Read "Sound-Effect" reviewed by John Barron


Pittsburgh native Steve Nelson has made his way through the jazz ranks playing high profile gigs with artists as diverse as Grant Green and Dave Holland. Since the 1970s, the Rutgers University alum has been quietly carving out his place as one of the premier vibraphonists working in jazz today. On Sound-Effect Nelson, with the help of pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash, stands front-and-center, towering over the vibes with vigor, clarity and unbridled soul.

Nelson ...

199
Album Review

Dave Holland Quintet: Critical Mass

Read "Critical Mass" reviewed by Joel Roberts


Bassist extraordinaire Dave Holland believes that like fine wine, music shouldn't be unbottled before its time. Holland and his highly regarded quintet spent a year and a half honing and retooling the music on their new album until it reached the point he calls “critical mass, where “it has become what it's going to be. That patience, care and commitment to getting things right is evident throughout Critical Mass. This is the work of a working band, ...

Read more articles
101

Performance / Tour

Jazz Pianist Mulgrew Miller & Vibist Steve Nelson Birthday Celebration At Smoke Jazz & Supper Club

Jazz Pianist Mulgrew Miller & Vibist Steve Nelson  Birthday Celebration At Smoke Jazz & Supper Club

Source: Dorothy Riley

New York, NY—- Beginning with the “Harlem Renaissance" of the 1920's and 1930's, spanning all the way to the present day, New York City, and Harlem, in particular have always been the natural home of jazz music. Now pianist Mulgrew Miller and his longtime collaborator, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, bring their music to the Smoke Jazz & Supper Club Lounge, located on the southern edge of New York's fabled Harlem neighborhood. The show, billed as a “Birthday Celebration," will take place ...

268

Recording

Veteran Saxophone Master Steve Elson Releases Mott & Broome

Veteran Saxophone Master Steve Elson Releases Mott & Broome

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Steve Elson is Mr. Saxophone. He plays the soprano, tenor and baritone saxophones with equal amounts of energy and preciseness, not to mention his additional range with the clarinet. With the release of Mott & Broome on Lips and Fingers Music scheduled to drop April 28, 2009, Elson has good reason to be excited.

Mott & Broome is destined to be another jazz classic to remember. Elson wrote all thirteen tracks on the recording, which offers a nice blend of ...

141

Education

Dave Holland Conducts Fall Residency with Steve Nelson

Dave Holland Conducts Fall Residency with Steve Nelson

Source: All About Jazz

Jazz Bassist Dave Holland Returns to NEC for Residency, September 20 -22

Performs in Concert September 21 with Vibraphonist Steve Nelson, Coaches Student Performance September 22

Presents Free Masterclasses September 20 and 21

Jazz bassist Dave Holland, Visiting Artist-in-Residence, returns to New England Conservatory September 20 for a fall residency that includes concerts and masterclasses. He will be joined by vibraphonist Steve Nelson in one performance and one class, both on Wednesday the 21st. He will coach students who perform ...

Chien Chien Lu
vibraphone
Eric Zabala
vibraphone

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Exactly Right

Savant Records
2023

buy

Nomadic

Changes Music - Tomas Janzon
2023

buy

Thank You, Joe! –...

Arkadia Records
2022

buy

Harlem Sunset

Postcards
2022

buy

Thank You, Duke!

Arkadia Records
2022

buy

Crisis

Savant Records
2021

buy

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.