Nelson Rangell

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Nelson Rangell (Born March 26, 1960) is an American jazz musician and composer from Castle Rock, Colorado. Although Rangell is known for his work with tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone, his main tool is the piccolo, which he started playing at the age of 15. In his time as a jazz musician, Rangell has worked somewhat regularly with some good ones. renowned Jazz artists such as Jimmy Haslip and Russ Ferrante, and has released 15 albums since the release of dÃƒ Â© Ã‚ Â© but To Started Again on January 1, 1988.

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Biography

Although Rangell's parents have no musical involvement, his brothers have also established music careers; his brothers - Andrew, a concert pianist and Bobby, a leading woodwind player in European jazz and studio scenes. Her sister Paula who lives in New Orleans is a singer.

Rangell first played the flute at the age of 15. Within six months he studied classical and jazz music at The Interlochen Arts Academy, a national camp for gifted music students. He went on to attend The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. As a student he won two prestigious National Student Recording Awards at Down Beat Magazine as best jazz singer and best pop/rock. After college he headed to New York in 1984 to pursue his career.

The next four years are spent "paying dues"; sit in, play together, and play with some of the world's greatest contemporary jazz musicians including Eric Marienthal, Hiram Bullock, Eric Gale, Richard Tee, Jaco Pastorius, David Sanborn and many others. He also found occasional work with the legendary Gil Evans Monday Night Orchestra and worked in many commercial jingle recording sessions. Rangell's 1987 debut album was released on Gaia/Gramavision Records, but soon after that he was signed by Larry Rosen and Dave Grusin at GRP Records.

In the 1980s he was a member of Members Only, a jazz ensemble recorded for Muse Records.

A series of albums were followed at GRP where he recorded eight CDs, starting in 1989. His ambitions expressed throughout this effort have "grown and developed as players and artists while making music that can easily relate to people in substantive form. "With his musical arsenal that includes flute, piccolo, alto, tenor and soprano saxophone and whistling, he is well equipped to fulfill this desire. He has recorded with The Rippingtons, Chuck Loeb, Patti Austin, Tom Browne, and The GRP All-Star Big Band to name a few and featured in Grammy Don Grusin's nomination CD "The Hang." Although Rangell has recorded mostly in contemporary/pop jazz formats and subtly collects top radio plays and large audiences, The Times notes "hearing the life of a much stronger and idiosyncratic player emerging." In the late 90's Rangell continued his career with Shanachie Records and has now released 14 CDs nationally and internationally.