BIO.
Vivify Music Recording Artist and Benedetto Guitar Artist, Brian Nova, is considered one of the top Jazz Guitarists/Vocalists in the nation, according to Jazz Improv Magazine. Joe Pass said of Nova: ‘I feel Brian is one of the finest Jazz Guitarists on the scene!’ He has the distinction of being the only guitarist who was mentored by, and toured with the two titans of Jazz guitar: Herb Ellis and Joe Pass. Rock Icon, Steve Miller, says: ‘I’ve met and known a lot of guitarists in my career, and ‘B’ is the best guitarist I’ve ever met.’ Nova performs, and records, as a solo artist with his Trio, Quartet, and his 18-piece Big Band. Brian is on Arturo Sandoval’s Grammy Award Winning CD, ‘Dear Diz’, which garnered a Grammy and 3 Latin Grammys in 2013 on Concord Records. Brian was also featured at the Iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem for Ella Fitzgerald’s 100th Birthday Celebration along with Liz Wright, Monica Mancini, Patti Austin, Andra Day, Cassandra Wilson, Ledisi and many others.
Nova performs throughout North America with extended bookings in major cities and as a Jazz Festival Artist. His annual European Tour includes engagements in Sicily, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, and Italy. His Pan-Pacific Tour includes China, Taiwan, and a sold out tour in Japan every December.
In addition to performing, Nova also encourages young Jazz musicians to further their own musical education and stage presence. From 1990 to 1996, he was the Director of Jazz and Guitar Studies for the Music Program at Seattle University. He continues to mentor the next generation of professional musicians through his master classes and clinics he conducts around the world.
“I’ve met and known a lot of guitarists in my career, and ‘B’ is one of the best guitarists I’ve ever met.”
- Rock Icon, Steve Miller
COLLABORATIONS
Nova has toured and performed with many of the Jazz elite, including: Saxophonists Eddie Harris, Illinois Jaquet, Danny Turner, Frank Foster, Tom Scott, Houston Person, Scott Hamilton, Dave Koz, Kenny G, Bobby Watson, Stanley Turrentine, Bud Shank, Pete Christleib, John Handy, Med Flory, Hadley Calman, Don Lamphere, Floyd Sandifer, Bill Ramsey; Trumpeters Arturo Sandoval, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Dizzy Gillespie, Terell Stafford, Clark Terry, James Morrison, Steve Madaio, Fred Radke, Mike Vax; Pianists Oscar Peterson, Gerald Wiggins, Buddy Greco, Shelly Berg, Laurence Hobgood, Kenny Drew, Jessica Williams, Joe Fos, Roger Kellaway, Marc Seals, Larry Fuller, and Benny Green; Bassists Ray Brown, Red Mitchell, Neils Henning Orsted-Pederson, Jimmy Hughart, Jim DeJulio, Luther Hughes, Dave Carpenter, Terry Miller, Victor Wooten, Stu Hamm, Chuck Berghoffer, Marshall Hawkins, Andy Simpkins, Leroy Vinnegar, Mads Vinding, Buddy Catlett, and John Heard; Drummers Gregg Field, Jeff Hamilton, Colin Bailey, Gary Novak, Mel Brown, Eddie Henderson, Dick Berk, Butch Miles, Bobby Durham, Paul Kreibich; Organists Jimmy Smith, Jim Pugh and Brother Jack McDuff; Guitarists Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, Larry Coryell, Barney Kessel, Mundell Lowe, John Pisano, Tal Farlow, John Stowell, Henry Johnson and Taj Mahal; Trombonists James Morrison, Julian Priester, Fred Wesley (James Brown); Vibraphonists Lionel Hampton, Chuck Redd, Christian Tambur, Louis Hjulmand, Kiyoko Ami, and Ricky Kelly; Vocalists Diane Schuur, Joe Williams, Kurt Elling, Steve Tyrell, Monica Mancini, Andra Day, Patti Austin, Ledesi, Buddy Greco, Ernestine Anderson, Freddie Cole, Lizz Wright, Dee Daniels, Jay Clayton, Greta Matassa, Mark Murphy; Blues and Rock Legends Stephen Stills, Charlie Musselwhite, Al Jardine (Beach Boys), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Eric Burdon (Animals and War), Dave Mason, Erich Church, Joe Satriani, Jimmy Buffett, Mark O’Connor, Clint Black and Rock and Roll Icon Steve Miller.
Brian Nova with Jazz Legend, Joe Pass
Brian Nova with Jazz Legend, Herb Ellis
DISCOGRAPHY.
Brian Nova has released seven recordings of his own and is on many others, including: Arturo Sandoval’s multi-Grammy award winning CD, ‘Dear Diz’ and the landmark recording, ‘Ella 100: Live At The Apollo’. Brian released his latest album, ‘The Upside of Lonely,’ featuring: Laurence Hobgood, Shelly Berg, Tom Scott, and many others. His previous releases included: ‘I Could Have Told You’, ‘The Shadow of Your Smile’, released in 2005 to rave reviews, ‘Blue and Bossa Nova’, ‘Brian Nova- Alone,’ ‘Live at Belltown Billiards’, and ‘Jazz Inflections.’
“brian nova is one of my favorite musicians to work with and listen to. he’s got a beautiful, signature tone on his guitar and he swings like crazy! great composer and arranger. pops is ready to roll!”
- Kurt Elling (Grammy award winning Vocalist, composer, producer, educator)