Jeff Nelson

Jeff Nelson has become one of New York’s busiest trombone players since arriving in the city after graduating from the Fredonia School of Music. Originally from the upstate village of Scotia, NY, he has toured the world with jazz artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Dave Holland, Lionel Hampton, Maria Schneider, Slide Hampton, Stefon Harris, Roy Hargrove, Paquito D’Rivera and Louie Bellson, as well as with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Mingus Big Band, Manhattan Jazz Orchestra and Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. In demand across various musical genres, he has shared the stage with performers including Tony Bennett, Luciano Pavarotti, Diana Ross, Michael McDonald, Aretha Franklin, Gerry Mulligan, Ron Carter, Nicholas Payton, Burt Bacharach, David Sanborn, Ne-Yo, Frankie Valli, Chaka Khan, Korn, Lou Rawls, Cheap Trick, Bono, the Manhattan Transfer, the Met Opera Brass and The Late Show’s CBS Orchestra. He has performed with classical orchestras including the American Symphony Orchestra, American Ballet Theatre, Manhattan Chamber Orchestra and Opera Saratoga, and has held chairs in 15 different Broadway show orchestras, including Sunset Boulevard, Titanic, Fosse, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Frozen and revivals of West Side Story, Les Misérables and Miss Saigon. He is also a regular orchestra member for the annual TV broadcast of Broadway’s TONY Awards.

Jeff has recorded with Dave Liebman, Sting, Jimmy Heath, Michel Legrand, Terence Blanchard, Kenny Werner, Michael Formanek, Vanessa Williams, Linda Eder, James Carter, Brett Eldredge and Harry Connick, Jr. He was also a part of Dafnis Prieto’s recent album Back to the Sunset, which won the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album. He has also been heard on movie soundtracks for Clockers, Across the Universe, The Greatest Showman, Ocean’s 8, Gemini Man, Noelle, Mel Brooks’ musical remake of The Producers and the Coen Brothers’ True Grit and Hail, Caesar!, among others. He has played on sports themes for the NFL, NBA, USTA and PGA, as well as for numerous TV and radio themes and jingles.

A CD with his own group, the New York Trombone Conspiracy, entitled A Matter of Time, was released several years ago to critical acclaim.

Jeff toured with Lionel Hampton from late 1989 until the spring of 1993.