Paul Nelson

Paul Nelson is an active trombonist, composer, arranger and music educator in the Los Angeles area. Paul has appeared on dozens of records as trombonist, bass trombonist and arranger, and has performed with bands and orchestras around the Atlanta and Los Angeles areas. In his time in Georgia, he managed and composed for Athens-based band Misnomer, an eclectic, seven-horn collective performing original music in modern jazz and funk styles. For the 2018-19 school year, he directed the Los Angeles Youth Jazz Ensemble alongside pianist Marco Apicella. Additionally, Paul maintains a private studio of low brass musicians and aspiring music producers. He has shared the stage with bands and leaders such as Bob Mintzer, Patrice Rushen and Band of Horses, and toured both nationally with Futurebirds and Misnomer. In 2020, Futurebirds album 'Teamwork,' a record in which Paul arranged the horn arrangements, was nominated by Downbeat Magazine as one of the best albums of 2020 and mentioned by Rolling Stone Magazine for its 'psychedelia and twang.'  

 

Most recently, Paul has appeared on commercial recordings, singles, and albums by the likes of Shea Diamond, Billy Porter, Tom Sandoval, Olivia Morreale, Chris Norton and more. Additionally, Paul leads his own creative project, 'Paul Nelson's Big Ol' Band,' a 17-piece orchestra featuring original music and arrangements and incorporating modern sounds with electronics and more.