Anniston, AL
Director of Jazz Studies at Jacksonville State University, Dr. Andy Nevala directs the Downbeat Award Winning Jazz Ensemble I (2015), Jazz Ensemble IV, the Latin Ensemble, oversees the Jazz Combo program, produces the annual Jazz Festival (in it's 12th year), and teaches Jazz Piano, Jazz Arranging, Jazz Pedagogy, Jazz History, and Jazz Arranging. He has overseen the JSU Jazz program more than double in size during his time at JSU, with performances in the community, at regional and international festivals, video and CD recordings, and Middle and High Schools in the Southeast region.
Andy has been recognized by Downbeat magazine on 6 different occasions, winning individual Downbeat Music Awards for composition (2002), arranging (2003), and performing/directing (2000, 2001, 2002, 2015).
He has recorded on over 20 CDs released in the US, Japan, and South America, most recently New West Records “Big Band of Brothers”, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Jazz Charts, and “Three Times Two”, released on the Girod record label out of New Orleans.
His a founding member of The Alabama Jazz Collective, a group that is dedicated to grow, promote and support the jazz community in Alabama, striving to establish common themes between all genres of music, races and cultures. This group is made up of Jazz Educators from throughout the state of Alabama, who teach at leading Universities, Colleges, and High Schools.
Through Jazz education, historical recordings, Jazz Festivals, and community outreach they are striving to create a thriving culturally rich audience in Alabama.
An active arranger and orchestrator, Dr. Nevala has been commissioned to arrange for the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Denver Brass, the Steve Lippia Big Band, and arrangements published by 3-2 Music Publishing. He has also orchestrated, conducted, and arranged music for the Malt Jupiter Theater in Jupiter, Florida, and orchestrated many musicals for the COPA Conservatory. He also arranges for the Atlanta Jazz Orchestra, JSU Jazz Ensembles, The JSU Latin Ensemble, Orchestra MaCuba, and many others.
Having studied under Dr. John Davis, Chip Stephens, Art Lande and Pat Bianci, Dr. Nevala holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Piano Pedagogy from the University of Colorado, Boulder, a Master of Music degree in Music Theory and Composition from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Boise State University.
For more information, please visit www.andynevalamusic.com
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PRO JAM NETWORK HANG! (Latin Focus)
Friday, January 5, 2024
11:59 PM – 1:30 AM CST