ABOUT PAUL NELSON

Paul Nelson is an active trombonist, composer, arranger, and music educator in the Los Angeles area. Paul has appeared on dozens of indie, rock, and funk records as trombonist, bass trombonist and arranger, and has performed with bands and orchestras around the Atlanta, Athens, Nashville and Los Angeles areas. In his time in Georgia, he managed and composed for Athens-based band Misnomer, an eclectic, ten-piece collective performing original music in modern jazz and funk styles.

Currently, Paul leads the jazz band at Burbank High School and 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 Big Band, Bill Holman Big Band, Santa Monica Symphony, Patrice Rushen, Futurebirds and Band of Horses. In 2020, Futurebirds album 'Teamwork,' a record 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, 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.