ALBUMS
Three-movement suite of my compositions for the 14-player New York-based Makrokosmos Orchestra.
"...modern jazz at its highest level....Sweeping panoramas full of dark hues combine with a sense of agitation and aggression while maintaining a kaleidoscopic sweep of orchestral colors, sometimes dense, sometimes translucent."—Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
“… the title track [is] a kaleidoscope of contrapuntal themes that weave in and out of the brass and woodwind sections, shifting in and out of time and spatial sensibilities in a mysterious narrative, its peaking followed by a scattering into the ether.” – Gary Fukushima, DownBeat
Deep River
A singular jazz suite that reimagines and reclaims early 20th century American roots music, treating it at times abstractly, as a springboard for the ensemble's inventive improvisers, and finally in surprising though recognizable vocal settings.
Pursuit
Five-movement large ensemble composition, plus two quintet tracks.
"Guitarist Richard Nelson has written a suite of music that would seem at home on a jazz stage or in a contemporary concert- music venue. . . The writing is complex but emotionally engaging, dense yet clean and resonant. . . .The colors of the orchestra are spellbinding, evocative and powerful." —New York City Jazz Record
Origin Story
Warm-toned, engaging, bold progressive jazz featuring guitarist Nelson's innovative compositions. Mingus meets Cage meets Hendrix. Quintet features trumpet legend Don Stratton, alto saxophonist Tim O'Dell, and drummer Steve Grover. Bassists are Sam Sherry and Greg Loughman.
Figurations
Jazz trio album of standards and originals, with drummer Steve Grover and bassist Chris Van Voorst Van Beest. Articulate, lyrical modern trio featuring guitarist Nelson. Warm and inventive with distinctive originals and standards ranging from Wayne Shorter to Cole Porter to Ornette Coleman.