Andy Nevala

Last updated
Andy Nevala
Birth nameAndrew Eric Nevala
Born (1972-05-09) May 9, 1972 (age 52)
Aurora, Colorado
Genres Jazz, Latin Jazz
Occupation(s) Musician, Educator, Arranger
Instrument(s) Piano, Keyboards
Years active1994-present
LabelsGirod, New West, Capri
Website andynevalamusic.com

Andrew Eric Nevala (born May 9, 1972) is an American jazz pianist and music educator who was born in Aurora, Colorado. A son of a military veteran, he attended grade school in Hahn, Germany, and then Sumter, South Carolina, and graduated from Mountain Home High School, Idaho.

Contents

Background

Nevala began studying piano at an early age and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from Boise State University, a Masters in Music Theory and Composition from the University of Northern Colorado, and a doctorate in piano performance with a jazz emphasis from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he was the first doctoral Student in the Jazz Studies Program. He studied jazz piano with Chuck Smith, Pat Bianchi, Chip Stephens, and Art Lande, and classical piano with Del Parkinson and Robert Spillman. [1]

Career

He is currently Director of Jazz Studies at Jacksonville State University, in Jacksonville, Alabama [2] and was formerly Coordinator of Jazz Studies at California State University Stanislaus in Turlock, California. [2] At JSU, he oversaw the program grow from two jazz bands and a combo when he arrived, to four jazz ensembles, six combos, a Latin Ensemble, and a vocal Jazz Ensemble. [3] Under his direction, JSU Jazz Ensemble I has won two Downbeat Student Music Awards, [4] and his groups have performed at the Jazz Educators Network Conference and the Alabama Music Educators Conference. [5]

As a professional musician, he has toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, [6] Steve Lippia, [7] Atlanta Latin Jazz Orchestra, [2] Eddie Turner, [8] the ProJazzTrio, and the Andy Nevala Quartet. [9]

Awards

2022 Downbeat Student Music Awards, Outstanding Performance, Undergraduate Big Band, Jacksonville State University Jazz Ensemble I, Director [4] [10]

2015 Downbeat Student Music Awards, Outstanding Performance, Undergraduate Big Band, Jacksonville State University Jazz Ensemble I, Director [4] [2]

2003 Downbeat Student Music Awards, Arrangement, “Autumn Leaves” [11]

2003 Downbeat Student Music Awards, Outstanding Performance, Big Band, University of Colorado Jazz Ensemble I, Pianist [11]

2002 Downbeat Student Music Awards, Outstanding Performance,Original Composition, ‘Nocturne’, Composer/Performer [11]

2002 Downbeat Student Music Awards, Outstanding Performance,College Instrumental Group, University of Colorado Combo 1, Pianist [11]

2000 Downbeat Student Music Awards, Best College Jazz/Rock Group, UNC Combo I, Director and Performer

2000 Downbeat Student Music Awards, Best Vocal Jazz Group, UNC Sus 4, Rehearsal Pianist and Performer

1999 Downbeat Student Music Awards, Best College Jazz/RockPerformance, UNC Combo II, Director and Performer

1999 Downbeat Student Music Awards, Best Vocal Jazz Group, UNC Sus 4, Rehearsal Pianist and Performer

Discography

2019, Big Band of Brothers, A Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band, New West Records [12]

2018, Nevala, Brothers, Carswell, Kozak, Three Times Two, Girod Records [13]

2014, Orquesta Dharma, La Clave Del Gumbo [14]

2011, Orquesta Dharma, Road Warrior [15]

2007, Alone Together, Capri Records [16]

2006, University of Colorado Jazz Ensemble I, CU Over The Rainbow,  

     University of Colorado College of Music, Jazz Studies Program [17]         

2005, ProJazzTrio, Live From Venezuela

2005, Conjunto Colores, Con Colores Se Goza

2004, University of Colorado Jazz Ensemble I, CU ‘Round Midnight,  

     University of Colorado College of Music, Jazz Studies Program [18]

2003, One For the Road, The Cornerstone Trio, Glenn Miller Productions [19]

2002, Conjunto Colores, On Another Level

2000, Waiting In the Alley

2002, Conjunto Colores, Lo Mejor Del Conjunto Colores

2001, University of Colorado Jazz Ensemble I, Boulder Buff – A Tribute

     To Glenn Miller, University of Colorado College of Music [20]

2000, UNC Jazz Lab Band I, Alive XVII, United Jazz Artists [21]

2000, Suzanne Morrison, From Where you Are

2000, Carrie Schultz, Introducing Carrie Schultz

1999, Conjunto Colores, MI Planeta

1998, Steve Roach, No Way Out

1997, Rebecca Scott Decision, United

1997, Robert Walker, Art of the Groove

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References

  1. ↑ "Andy Nevala Music". Andy Nevala Music. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Dr. Andy Nevala - David L. Walters Department of Music". www.jsu.edu. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  3. ↑ "Dr. Andy Nevala - David L. Walters Department of Music". www.jsu.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  4. 1 2 3 "JSU Jazz Ensemble Wins Downbeat".
  5. ↑ "Dr. Andrew Nevala". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Glenn Miller Orchestra". glennmillerorchestra.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  7. ↑ "Great American Songbook and Standards – SteveLippia.com Sinatra". SteveLippia.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  8. ↑ "Eddie Turner". Eddie Turner. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  9. ↑ "Blog 1". Andy Nevala Music. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  10. ↑ "DownBeat June 2023 Student Music Awards". archive.maherpublications.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Jazz Studies Awards and Activities". College of Music. 2017-07-10. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  12. ↑ "News". BIG BAND OF BROTHERS. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  13. ↑ "GIROD RECORDS® - Three Times Two". Girod Records. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  14. ↑ Gama, Raul Da (2015-04-06). "Jamie Dubberly & Orquesta Dharma: La Clave del Gumbo". Latin Jazz Network. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  15. ↑ "Road Warrior, by Jamie Dubberly and Orquesta Dharma". orquesta dharma. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  16. ↑ "Capri Records". caprirecords.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  17. ↑ Jazz, All About (2006-12-07). "University of Colorado Jazz Ensemble 1: CU Over the Rainbow album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  18. ↑ University of Colorado Jazz Ensemble 1, John Davis, Jim McNeely - CU 'Round Midnight, 2004, retrieved 2023-10-18
  19. ↑ "7-0-5", Wikipedia, 2021-12-24, retrieved 2023-10-18
  20. ↑ Boulder Buff, Boulder Buff: A CU Tribute to Glenn Miller - Rare!!, UCB, retrieved 2023-10-18
  21. ↑ "Alive XVII - For the Last Time!". iJazzMusic. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
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