Live Edge Trio with Steve Nelson

Musical Style: Jazz

Live Edge Trio Features Ben Markley on piano, Seth Lewis on bass, and Andy Wheelock on drums. Live Edge writes and arranges music that reflects and builds upon the rich history of the Jazz Piano Trio. Each member of the trio offers a unique and distinct musical perspective, which come together as hard-swinging, harmonically rich, infectiously groovy tunes. Their first studio record, Look for the Silver Lining was released in 2023 as is available on all major streaming platforms. The trio’s second studio record features legendary vibraphonist, Steve Nelson, and will be released on the Origin record label in May of 2024.

Acknowledged as "...the most completely realized and original performer on the vibraphone," Steve Nelson is one of the most highly regarded vibraphonists of his generation. Recognized for his inventive and fluidly harmonic approach, Steve began his career following the path blazed by his first major influence, Milt Jackson. After a college stint with guitarist Grant Green, Nelson performed and recorded with James Spaulding and Kenny Barron, before landing a spot in David "Fathead" Newman's quintet.

Steve has been the vibist of choice among some of jazz's most iconic artists including Jonny Griffin, Jackie McLean, Bobby Watson, Curtis Lundy, James Williams, and Lewis Nash. Steve is a veteran member of Dave Holland's acclaimed quintet and Big Band, George Shearing Quintet, and was a friend and frequent collaborator with Mulgrew Miller on his Wingspan sextet. Expressing his admiration for Miller, Steve says, "The thing that really stood out for me was his honesty in music...We had many of the same goals and ideas about taking the foundation of jazz and then advancing it." Steve continues to tour and record with Donald Brown, Renee Rosnes, Geoffrey Keezer and Jeremy Pelt, among others.

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Widely acknowledged as one of the pre-eminent modernist vibraphone improvisors. Steve has appeared on numerous recordings, and at concerts and festivals worldwide including the Newport Jazz Festival, The Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreal International Jazz Festival, and the Netherlands International Jazz Festival to name just a few. His original releases include Full Nelson, Fuller Nelson, Brothers Under the Sun, Communications, Sound Effects and more. He is a dedicated educator with prior positions at Princeton University, William Paterson University, and Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Steve is a 2021 Doris Duke Charitable Foundation supported New Jazz Works commissioned composer.

Ben Markley is an award-winning composer and arranger that is in high demand across the country. One of his most recent projects, Ari's Funhouse - Ben Markley Big Band with Ari Hoenig, was just awarded one of Downbeats best albums of 2022 and has received outstanding reviews. Markley has recorded 8 award winning records as a leader and dozens more as a sideman. The list of artists he has performed with includes Ari Hoenig, Bob Bowman, Joel Frahm, Brian Lynch, Greg Osby, Eddie Henderson, Terell Stafford, George Garzone, and John

Fedchock to name a few. Ben Markley is the Music Department Chair at the University of Wyoming.

Seth Lewis is an award-winning bassist that has performed all over the world, appeared on dozens of recording projects, collaborated with artists such as Mulgrew Miller, Louis Hayes, Eric Alexander, David Hazeltine, Jerry Dodgion, Randy Brecker, Sheila Jordan, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Greg Gisbert, Dave Liebman, Eric McPherson, Abraham Burton, Josh Evans, Stacey Dillard, Dawn Clement, Alexis Cole, Benny Golson, Jeff Hamilton, Evan Sherman, Jonathan Barber, Emmet Cohen, and toured with the great Glenn Miller Orchestra. Seth Lewis is the Jazz Bass Professor at the University of Wyoming.

Andy Wheelock is in high demand as a drummer, percussionist, and educator. He has performed with many great artists such as Gilad Heksleman, Bill O’Connell, Adam Birnbaum, Ernie Watts, SK Kakraba, Chuchito Valdes, Terell Stafford, Bob Bowman, and Bobby Shew, to name a few. He has played on dozens of records playing everything from straight ahead swing, to Afro-Latin Jazz, all the way to Neo-Soul Funk. As a leader, he recently released his debut record, View From Here, which received outstanding reviews and ample airtime around the country. Andy Wheelock is the Director of Jazz Studies and Percussion Area Coordinator at the University of Wyoming.

Steve Nelson - vibes

Ben Markley - piano

Seth Lewis - bass

Andy Wheelock - drums