1st Fridays Jazz at Joes with the Josh Nelson Trio

Joe’s Restaurant, Abbot Kinney’s original fine dining experience where farmer’s market ingredients meet California-French cuisine in a comfortable neighborhood atmosphere in Venice Beach, is pleased to present a monthly jazz series to coincide with the First Friday’s Art Walks. Mohr Music will present the First Fridays Jazz Series at Joe’s featuring instrumental and vocal artists, internationally recognized players as well as great local talent, signed and unsigned, playing on the heated patio.

The March 2 First Fridays Jazz Series installment kicks off at 7pm with award winning, critically respected pianist Josh Nelson and his trio, with Dan Schnelle on drums and Dave Robaire on bass. They will be joined by a special guest saxophonist in from Brooklyn, Kyle Wilson.

Legendary LA drummer Peter Erskine notes “Josh is that rare young musician who has not only a wealth of study and experience under his belt (all but assuring him a prominent place in jazz music), but he also possesses those rarest of musical attributes: a touch, a tone, and a “sound” that are all identifiably his own.”

Josh Nelson has made an indelible impression on the international jazz scene performing with the most respected names in music, including Natalie Cole, Christian McBride, Anthony Wilson, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Ernie Watts, Peter Erskine, Queen Latifah, and many others.
 
He has recorded five albums: First Stories in 1998 was called "solid and confident musicianship, with an innate sense of swing and rhythm," by Mac McDonald in the Monterey Herald; Anticipation in 2004 was an exploration of original composition; Let it Go in 2007, was a critically acclaimed release on the jazz label Native Language Music; and I Hear a Rhapsody in 2009, displayed Josh’s strong original voice, daring interpretations of standards, and reinventions of rock tunes.

His latest work, Discoveries (2011) showcases original compositions for trio augmented by added winds, voice and guitar was inspired by albums like Herbie Hancock's Speak Like a Child, The Prisoner and Andrew Hill's Point of Departure. Josh's original music draws from a wealth of experience and influences but it is firmly planted in the classic jazz tradition.

His mentors include jazz pianist Cecilia Coleman, Buddy Collette, Bill Cunliffe, Alan Pasqua, Putter Smith, and Benny Green. Josh is the recipient of countless honors, awards, and scholarships including the Louis Armstrong Award, the John Phillip Sousa Award, and he was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition.

Dan Schnelle is from New York where he was first exposed to the music of Buddy Rich, Max Roach, and Steve Gadd. At USC’s Thornton School of Music, Schnelle was named a Louie Bellson Scholar. After graduating he attended the Henry Mancini Institute and has since toured the US and internationally and has performed at major jazz festivals. Notable collaborators include Josh Nelson, Nick Mancini, Gary Fukushima, Andy Langham, Anthony Wilson, Ben Wendel, Larry Koonse, the Industrial Jazz Group and more.

A Los Angeles native, Dave Robaire attended the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York while studying with bassist John Patitucci. While in New York, he worked with Dave Glasser, Andy Milne and Dapp Theory, Gilad Hekselman, and Wynton Marsalis with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. In 2009 Dave returned to the West coast and has been a part of the LA Jazz Collective. His has recorded and performed with Josh Nelson, Bob Sheppard, Larry Koonse, Alan Ferber, Walter Smith III, Otmaro Ruiz and many others.

Born and raised in Houston, TX, Kyle Wilson started playing saxophone at age 14. After high school, he studied Jazz Performance at the New School University in New York City. He has studied and/or performed with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Chris Cheek, Donny McCaslin, Greg Tardy, Ben Street, Rodney Green, Corey King, and Ben Van Gelder, among others. He currently resides in Brooklyn, NY and can be seen playing in venues such as Smalls, Jazz Gallery, 55 Bar, and La Lanterna.

Joe's Restaurant is located at 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, CA 90291. Reservations are made by calling 310-399-5811 and are strongly recommended as patio seating is limited. The music begins at 7pm and ends at 11pm. The artists will play three or four sets. There is no cover charge for the music, but dinner orders are required for table seating. Joe's will give a complimentary glass of wine, with dinner, for 6-7pm reservations. There is valet parking, a paid parking lot, and street parking.