Born and raised in Southern California, pianist-composer-bandleader Josh Nelson has performed with some of the most respected names in jazz, including Kurt Elling, John Pizzarelli, Benny Golson, Sheila Jordan, Eddie Daniels, John Clayton, George Mraz, Jeff Hamilton, Joe Chambers. Nelson toured with legendary vocalist Natalie Cole for six years and with vocalists Gaby Moreno, Freda Payne, Alicia Olatuja, Sara Gazarek, Nicolas Bearde accordionist Richard Galliano, saxophonist Tom Scott, multi- instrumentalist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and violinist Christian Howes. He taught music for four years at Soka University and more recently at Cal State University Northridge. In 2006, Nelson was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition.