Josh Nelson

Josh Nelson, born and raised in Southern California, maintains an active and creative schedule as a jazz pianist, composer, teacher, and recording artist. Barely 30 years old, he has already performed with some of the most respected names in jazz, including Natalie Cole, Anthony Wilson, Jeff Hamilton, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Seamus Blake, Matt Wilson, Sara Gazarek, and Peter Erskine, to name a few. Josh has recorded for countless albums, films, and TV shows, but also makes time for his own projects: Stories (1998), Emergence (2001), The Leadwell Project (2002), and Anticipation (2004) and the critically acclaimed Let it Go (2007), which garnered critical claim and boasts an all-star lineup.

His writing and performance credits include various prime-time and Cable TV shows and films, including “Jack and Bobby”, "The Division", “Lucky”, and “First Daughter” (directed by Forest Whittaker). He has also worked with film composer Michael Kamen, and actors Eric Idle, Clint Eastwood, and Jon Lovitz.

Josh has earned many awards, scholarships, and accolades over the years, including the Louis Armstrong Award and the John Philip Sousa Award. A semifinalist in the 2006 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, Josh is the musical director for vocal talent Sara Gazarek, for whom he penned the title track, “Yours” on her debut record. Sara’s second studio album, Return to You (2006), also featured Josh’s songwriting talent. Josh is currently on a world tour with Natalie Cole.

Josh charmed the Festival audiences with his CD, I Hear a Rhapsody in 2011 and we encourage you to enjoy his latest release, Discoveries.

www.joshnelsonmusic.com