Steve Nelson Quartet

Steve Nelson - Vibraphone

Rick Germanson - Piano

Kiyoshi Kitagawa - Bass

Charles Goold - Drums

Steve Nelson is an acclaimed American jazz vibraphonist and marimba player, widely regarded as one of the pre-eminent modernist performers on the instrument for his inventive, fluidly harmonic, and chromatic approach.

Introduced to the vibraphone in high school by his teacher George A. Monroe—a steelworker by day and a gifted vibraphonist in the Milt Jackson tradition—Nelson also received early instruction in piano and jazz fundamentals from Monroe, to whom he later dedicated the track "Blues for George A." on his album Full Nelson. He began his professional career in Pittsburgh, quickly progressing to gigs with guitar legend Grant Green after a recommendation from local musician Jerry Byrd.

Nelson earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in music from Rutgers University, studying in the renowned Jazz Studies program under pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Larry Ridley, and drummer Ted Dunbar. His debut recording was on James Spaulding's Plays the Legacy of Duke Ellington (1983), followed by collaborations in the early 1980s with Barron, David "Fathead" Newman, Bobby Watson, and the George Shearing big band.

Throughout his career, Nelson has been the vibraphonist of choice for jazz icons, including long-term partnerships with pianist Kenny Barron, saxophonist Jackie McLean, drummer Lewis Nash, pianist James Williams, bassist Curtis Lundy, and pianist Mulgrew Miller's Wingspan Sextet. Since the 1990s, he has been a core member of bassist Dave Holland's Quintet and Big Band, contributing to decades of composing, performing, and touring.

As a leader, Nelson has released albums such as Live at Acireale (Red Records), Full Nelson (Sunnyside), and Communications (Criss Cross), showcasing his personal voice on vibes. In 2025, he earned a Grammy nomination for his work on Barron's quintet album Beyond This Place, praised as "one of the best career efforts of the number one vibes player of his generation."

In addition to performing worldwide, Nelson serves as an educator, teaching jazz ensemble at Montclair State University and mentoring young vibraphonists, as featured in the 2023 short documentary Sparni.

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