Carole Nelson

Carole is a London-born jazz pianist, saxophonist and composer who has been living in Ireland since 1986. The Carole Nelson Trio began at the 2015 Dublin Trio Trio Trio Piano Festival. Together since then, the unit is very well established with full trust and intuitive understanding The Trio’s first album, One Day in Winter was released in 2017. With all original compositions from Carole, follows the course of a winter’s day, inspired by the County Carlow landscape between the River Barrow and the Blackstairs Mountains, where she currently lives.​ “A finely wrought meditation that tapped into the spacious European piano trio tradition of Tord Gustavsen and Marcin Wasilewski” Irish Times. Arboreal was the trio's second album, released in 2020 featuring another collection of outstanding compositions. 'One of the most original jazz composers in Ireland' ...​'a rare and exceptional talent' Irish Times. ‘Best album of 2020’ in All About Jazz The trio’s third album, Night Vision, released in 2022, again focusing on ecological and environmental themes. “its intricately spun dialogues are moving and engaging” All About Jazz. “a record of blissful opportunities” Irish Times. In 2024 Carole received the IMC’s Ban Bam award for women composers in jazz and improvised music, leading to performances at the Manchester, and London Jazz Festivals. Her 2025 release THROUGH THE STORM delivered more origingal compostions dealing with themes of bird migration and environtal change. “This is an album of two contrasting messages, which are played with finesse by this highly impressive jazz trio. Well worth a good listen.” JazzViews CD of the Week Donos kulturalny (Poland) “this is a group that knows the sound they want. Nelson’s patience as a composer and improviser is at the core of that sound. It’s music that listens, and waits.” Journal of Music "they’re not as well known as they deserve to be" UKJazzNews “This is an album of intensity and deep sorrow from a very good, empathetic trio.” BeBopSpoken Here Carole formed Zrazy with vocalist Maria Walsh in 1991. Their debut CD Give It All Up won the 1992 Hot Press/Music Critics Best New Band Award. Carole recorded five further albums with Zrazy. Their 1998 album Private Wars won an American GLAMA award (Gay and Lesbian American Music Award) for Best Jazz. Carole has arranged original music for the Dublin choir Gloria. Her composition Beloved and other arrangements are now performed by choirs worldwide. Carole's theatre work includes composition for The Trojan Women, and Emma Donoghues's Ladies and Gentlemen.

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