For those unaware, Ana Nelson is a clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, and arranger known for her multi-genre diversity in classical and jazz styles. Currently residing in Bloomington, IN, Ana has performed with a variety of groups and artists across the Midwest, including Michael Spiro’s “Descarga 5,” the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Ensemble.

As a recording artist, Ana has appeared on recordings with Bootsy Collins for his remix of the “Indiana Fight Song,” Indiana University Jazz Ensemble performing “Gennett Suite” recorded for WTIU TV, Liberation Music Collective’s Rebel Portraiture, and releases for Oberlin Orchestra and IU New Music Ensemble.

In Summer of 2020, Ana Nelson co-founded the Virtual Woodwind Academy, an online program that brings music and education to students of all ages and backgrounds through masterclasses, summer programs, and courses in jazz and classical genres.

In her career so far, Ana Nelson has shown that she has equal skill and sensitivity in playing jazz, classical and Latin music whether on alto-sax or clarinet. She has mellow tones on her instruments but also displays inner passion in her improvisations.

Bridges, her first full-length release as a leader, features the up-and-comer on seven of her originals. She is also joined by by pianist Jamaal Baptiste on six of the seven selections and bassist Brendan Keller-Tuberg and drummer Carter Pearson on the first four numbers.

1. Wanderlust
2. Waltz
3. LCB
4. Blue Flower
5. NelBap Choro
6. Let the Light In
7. Fruit of the Groove

This dutifully masterful, always heartfelt, and melodious new album opens on the passionately-imbibed Wanderlust and the clarinet-led, at times sombre, but most assuredly warmly driven Waltz and then backs those up seamlessly with the melodic interplay found within LCB (the initials of her family members) and the hauntingly melodic, and string quartet-enhanced balladry of Blue Flower.

Up next is one of my own personal favorites from this new collection, the Brazilian joy of the clarinet-piano duet known here as NelBap Choro, which is in turn followed by the sweetly mellifluous Let the Light In (which also features the string quartet), the album rounding out on the hard swing of Fruit of the Groove (which brings together the clarinet, the piano work of Baptiste, her father and tenor-saxophonist Bill Nelson, bassist Jeremy Allen and drummer Steve Houghton).

About the album, Ana says, As a classical musician who fell in love with jazz, and then later discovered Brazilian music, it’s difficult for me to label this album as any one specific genre, as I view it more of a melding of music and people I love.

The title, Bridges, is my way of reflecting that cross-blending. I hope that my album can exemplify the connection between genres, people, and the personal joy and empowerment that creating original music brings me.

Official Website

Ana Nelson - Fruit of the Groove (from Bridges)

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