The Carole Nelson Trio released their second album Arboreal in February 2020, which has since received glowing acclaim, including the Irish Times top ten albums of the year and All About Jazz Magazine (UK) Best Album 2020
‘a particularly elegant piece of work from a rare talent’ Irish Times
'Nelson is, without question, as the refined language of her writing and playing constantly reiterates, a singular voice,' All About Jazz
The trio is centred around Carole’s composition and piano work accompanied by Cormac O'Brien on bass and Dominic Mullan on drums
The theme of all things arboreal runs through the album. As Carole says on the album notes -
'Arboreal began as a walk through my local woods in South Co. Carlow. I wanted to compose music that would express the living reality of a forest – from the mycelium network beneath my feet to the sheltering canopy above, with a sense of the deep interconnection of all living things. While I was composing, information about the climate emergency was reaching more and more of us and I felt the need to respond, as a composer, to the overarching concern of our times. I learned from activists and eco-philosophers about finding the courage to feel, about emotional resilience and active hope.'
This is music to immerse oneself in - lyrical, open-hearted and grounded in a spirit that refuses to give up hope.
The trio’s debut album One Day in Winter was released in 2017, capturing the flow of one winter’s day from dawn to moonrise in Carole’s Carlow home.
'one of Ireland's more original jazz composers' Irish Times
The trio are currently recording their third, as yet untitled, album.
More recently Carole was one of 20 Irish composers invited by Music Network to compose and record a piece during the Lockdown.Her piece From Stillness into Life can be heard hear.
For more information go to carolenelsonmusic.com