“Mary Nelson doesn’t just cover jazz... she sings, writes and creates it.”
“Easy, effortless, breezy, and boundless: a few words to describe Mary Nelson´s entrance into a room, as is her approach to jazz. With a soulful voice beyond her years her interpretations and songwriting is bold and breathtaking.”
Having shared the stage with the likes of Swedish Grammy nominee Peter Asplund, Swedish/American singer and composer Mary Nelson has in every way found her place in the genre by being an accomplished jazz singer.
At age 17 she had her first taste of singing with a jazz band, performing "My funny Valentine" at the big school concert with a large audience and she went on attending The School of the Arts in Stockholm studying musical theatre. Here she found her voice with professional vocal coaches and fell in love with the subject of the interpretation of songs. That with a phrase, a word and improvisation one can make something new of the same song each time. That the lyrics and music always go hand in hand, and that she as a vocalist always would be a story teller.
As soon as she graduated she started working professionally in shows, musicals and with bands in different genres, in crossovers between pop, jazz and country. She also often did backup vocals for famous Swedish artists, and all this time she was composing and writing lyrics for her own jazz project that soon would see the light.
In 2006, Mary began writing jazz music together with pianist Daniel Palm and they set out with the plan to write "new jazz standards", original songs but with the roots in The Great American Songbook era.
Mary also hooked up with jazz guitarist Fredrik Vislander, at that time living in London, and wrote some songs with him, and they went into the studio to record her debut album” Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”
She contacted colleagues Peter Asplund and Frida Öhrn for guest appearances and the album was released in early 2011.
The release was followed by tours and appearances on National TV and radio and performing an hour long special on Swedish National Radio with Mary and her jazz quartet. Recorded live in the studio, the program was focused on her original songs and about her as a performer.
Mary’s second album “The meadows of my heart” (Do Music) recorded in the summer 2013 with legendary sound technician and producer Gert Palmkrantz best known for his recording “Jazz at the Pawnshop” with Arne Domnerus, but also for recording legends like Miles Davies, Dizzy Gillespie and Alice Babs. On this album Mary has teamed up with jazz pianist Julien Kohler from Paris, France and they played new arrangements from the songbook of jazz standards.
The release of the album in January 2015 was followed by a tour of Scandinavia and France.
An opportunity to be a part of a Swedish crime noir series “Gåsmamman” came up and Mary acted and performed four of her original songs live in the series accompanied by Daniel Lantz Trio. The show became a massive success winning “Kristallen” the highly acclaimed prize for Swedish TV. Mary and the trio followed up the success with recording a live EP with the songs from the series released in 2016.
Mary is a very productive person with several projects in motion and in the spring of 2017 she started up the beloved idea of “Moon River and Me!”-the music of Henry Mancini, together with pianist and arranger Daniel Lantz. Premiered in November 2017 and is a concert experience for both the arrangements of the music of Henry Mancini, but also showing clips from the movies they were written for.
She shares a project with world famous trumpetplayer and vocalist Peter Asplund tributing "The women of the Great American Songbook". The project brings the spotlight on the female lyricists and composers that are almost forgotten in time, and is estimated to become an album during 2019, with release early 2020.
She also has the project “The Streets of New York”, a collaboration with The Velocity Duo in New York. The theme takes the listener on a musical journey through the streets of New York landing at addresses where music history was made with music of Joni Mitchell, David Bowie, John Lennon, Cole Porter and many more in new jazz arrangements.
Mary Nelson has a clear vision of herself and her music and said once in an interview:
“Creative and innovative jazz music with the roots in The Great American Songbook, but with modern lyrics that grab and stick to the memory of my audience. That is my vision, both when I create music and lyrics, but also when I perform it. To convey a feeling. A story. A brief moment from my life or someone else's.
Music has that power and jazz music is said to be a close to extinct genre, but in my eyes, it is stronger in our time and more exciting than ever.”
I am proud to annonce that I am recording a new album in September!
My project "Moon River and Me" will be recorded at Kingside Studios and I and Daniel Lantz Three are thrilled! We are making this project as a Swedish/Finnish collaboration and the talented Kari Paavola is coming over from Helsinki to join us on drums for this recording.
The music for the project is of course by Henry Mancini and the lyrics are represented by Johnny Mercer, Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.
The amount of amazing instrumental Mancini songs are too many to count and since there are so many songs that I wanted to sing that didn´t have any lyrics, and with me being both a lyricist and vocalist I decided to write the lyrics myself. So for this upcoming album I have three songs with lyrics by me.
The album is scheduled to be released in March 2019 by DoMusic Records.
We hope that you´ll come to our shows and that you´ll enjoy the album!
When You´re big in Taiwan!
Thank you world for listening to my music! I just recieved my list of top 7 countries listening to my music on Spotify in 2018 so far. I am so grateful and very happy to have such a solid fan base in Taiwan! Xièxie nĭ!!! (Thank you!!!)
The top 7 countries that love my music the most 2019 so far:
1. Taiwan
2. Sweden
3. United States
4. Spain
5. Germany
6. Netherlands
7. Norway
Thank you to all my fans for listening to my music on Spotify!
During 2017 my music has been played in 51 countries, has 55.000 fans and has been played for 13.000 hours!
I am very grateful and wish you all an amazing Christmas and New Year!
Hope to have you listening just as much, and maby more in 2019!
This week Mary Nelson is in New York for rehearsals for "The Streets of New York".
Sweden tour in October during The Stockholm Jazzfestival week.
A musical journey through the streets of New York landing at addresses where music history was made. We make a stop at Tin Pan Alley (28th Street/Fifth Ave.) where The Great American Songbook was born and continue to The Dakota Building by Central Park (1W/72nd street) where John Lennon spent his last years. We get on board the A-train where Duke Ellington found his inspiration to one of his most famous jazz tunes and then we continue travelling to 107th street in Queens where Louis Armstrong lived his whole life and then lastly touching down at Apollo Theatre (253W/125th street) in Harlem.
The Streets of New York is a collaboration with Swedish/American jazz vocalist Mary Nelson and The Velocity Duo from New York with Lauren Lee on vocals and piano and Charley Sabatino on bass.
The music from the project is a selection of pop and jazz songs in new and personal arrangements.
Mary Nelson-vocals
Lauren Lee-piano and vocals
Charley Sabatino-bass
www.artistecard.com/thestreetsofnewyork
Mary Nelson is featured on several Spotify playlists in Sweden and Asia.
Svensk Jazz: https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX4roJ565TJ33
Timeless Women Of Jazz:
https://open.spotify.com/user/marymarx/playlist/0n4iU9jX3rDezmE9pUm3zg?si=MAOB2AZ1
Asian Spotify Playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWWcAe1qSHqUk
We are proud to announce that Mary Nelson will be one of the guest artists with Peter Asplund Quartet at The Stockholm Jazzfestival at Plugged Records in October 2017.
She will perform songs from her upcoming album that Peter Asplund is producing, scheduled for release spring 2018.
http://www.plugged.se/biljetter/peter-asplund-aspiration.html
We are proud to announce that Mary Nelson will be performing at Visby Jazzfestival on August 26th together with Peter Asplund, Ulf Johansson-Werre, Daniel Tilling and more.
Tickets: http://visbyjazzfest.se/
Mary Nelson will be in New York in early May to work on collaborations and projects with Lauren Lee, Matt Baker Trio and Gary Haberman.
Mary Nelson is choosing songs for arrangements for her new jazz album.
Release of EP "Here to Stay" (Music from TV-series "Gåsmamman") coming in March 2016. The EP is a live recording in studio together with Daniel Lantz Trio. (Daniel Lantz: piano, Daniel Oijala: bass, Daniel Olsson:drums.) Recorded at SoundSide Studios and released by DoMusic Records.
Mary Nelson to perform in "Somewhere over the rainbow" at Nalen on August 29th where she sings jazz with Janne Sjöblom Trio.
For more information:
http://www.nalen.com/konsert/2015/fraulein-frauke-presents-over-the-rainbow/
https://www.facebook.com/events/905260352881051/permalink/920936407980112/
Mary Nelson is currently on a US-tour to sing jazz in Minneapolis and New York.
First stop is at ASI in Minneapolis to sing Swedish Folk Jazz with local jazz trio Peter Schimke Trio.
http://www.asimn.org/programs-education/events/midsommar-celebration-2015
Mary Nelson and Daniel Lantz Trio are featured artists in Swedish Drama Series "Gåsmamman" (Enedemol and Kanal 5) starring Tommy Körberg, Alexandra Rapaport and many more. Following original songs by Mary Nelson/Fredrik Vislander are featured in the movie: "The essence of Spring", "Midnight jazz", and "Walzing The Village". Release in late 2015.
Mary Nelson plays 2 jazz concerts in Paris on the 27th and 28th of Feb together with world famous trumpet player and jazz vocalist Peter Asplund.
www.peterasplund.com
Mary Nelson has an exciting new big band project together with The Smoke Rings Sisters from Gothenburg. The three lovely ladies sing Andrew Sisters harmonies and will be a part of Marys new project planned to be recorded in January 2016 and released in April 2016.
http://www.smokeringssisters.se/
On the 7th of Feb Mary Nelsons new jazz album is being released on Swedish jazz lable DoMusic! The release concert will take place at Nalen, and to accompany her she has her French trio from Paris, JOM Trio featuring Julien Kohler on piano who also is a featuring artist on the album. The crooner Jesper M Sjöberg will be the guest artist for the evening and Frida Öhrn is playing jazz records between the sets.
More info on: http://www.nalen.com/konsert/2014/mary-nelsons-releasekonsert/
Mary Nelson is guest at Swedish Podcast FEEDbAC, and is interviewed about her jazz music and career. The topics of the day are talent, ambition and believing in yourself as an artist. Available on iTunes!
https://itunes.apple.com/se/podcast/feedbac-5-mary-nelson/id914650509?i=332889050&mt=2
A Jazz Documentary about Mary Nelson and her music is now in the making. Director and producer Nina Eremar (NinaFilm) is the creator of the project and follows Mary around the world to capture her life and music on the road as a jazz singer and songwriter. The documentary will be filmed in Scandinavia, London, Paris and USA and will be released in the end of 2015.
The new Jazz album with Swedish Jazz sensation Mary Nelson will be released in February 2015 by wellknown Swedish jazzlable DoMusic. The release concert will be held at jazz palace Nalen in Stockholm on 7th of February, and Mary will be singing with Julien Kohler and Jom Trio from Paris, France. Julien has also been one of the featuring artists on the album.
Marys second album “The meadows of my heart” (DoMusic) recorded in the summer 2013 with legendary sound technician and producer Gert Palmkrantz best known for his recording “Jazz at the Pawnshop” with Arne Domnerus, but also for recording legends like Miles Davies, Dizzy Gelespie and Alice Babs.
On this album Mary has teamed up with jazz pianist Julien Kohler from Paris, France and they played new arrangements from the songbook of jazzstandards.
They are together touring France during the fall of 2014 and spring of 2015.
Mary Nelson plays jazz with pianist Måns Ek
Recording of music video "I will wait for you" at Häringe Castle.
Mary Nelson plays jazz at 1920s bar Melt in Södermalm, Stockholm.
Mary Nelson with Julien Kohler Trio plays jazz in Montparnasse, Paris.
Mary Nelson with Julien Kohler Trio plays jazz in Montparnasse, Paris
Mary Nelson with trio featuring Jesper M Sjöberg plays and sings jazz.
Mary Nelson and Måns Ek plays jazz at Melt Bar&Restaurant in Södermalm, Stockholm.
Mary Nelson with Elias Källvik Trio plays jazz at RLife Malmö, Renaissance Hotel.
Video release at Häringe Castle for Mary Nelsons music video "I will wait for you" followed by a jazz concert with Mary Nelson and Måns Ek (piano).
Mary Nelson (vocals) and Måns Ek (piano) plays jazz at Melt Bar&Restaurant in Södermalm, Stockholm.
Mary Nelson (vocals) and Måns Ek (piano) plays jazz at Melt Bar&Restaurant in Södermalm, Stockholm.
Jazz sensation Mary Nelson sings jazz with her pianist Måns Ek at well known restaurant and bar, Fina Fisken in Trosa this summer.
Mary Nelson sings jazz with guitarist Andreas Rydman.
Jazz sensation Mary Nelson sings jazz with her pianist Måns Ek at well known restaurant and bar, Fina Fisken in Trosa this summer.
Jazz sensation Mary Nelson sings jazz with her pianist Måns Ek at well known restaurant and bar, Fina Fisken in Trosa this summer.
Mary Nelson sings jazz with Richard Krantz Trio.
Jazz sensation Mary Nelson sings jazz with her pianist Måns Ek at well known restaurant and bar, Fina Fisken in Trosa this summer.
Mary Nelson sings jazz with pianist Jonas Öijvall.
Mary Nelson with Julien Kohler Trio at Swan Bar, Montparnasse, Paris.
Guest singer with American jazz pianist Sheldon Forrest at Club Rayé in Paris, France.
Private jazz venue at Vidbynäs castle, Södertälje with pianist Andreas Kjäll.
Mary Nelson (vocals) and Måns Ek (piano) plays jazz at Melt Bar&Restaurant in Södermalm, Stockholm.
Mary Nelson (vocals) and Måns Ek (piano) plays jazz at Melt Bar&Restaurant in Södermalm, Stockholm.
Private Christmas Jazz Venue at Hotel Radisson Blu Waterfront, Stockholm
Mary Nelson sings jazz at Nalen on New Years Eve with Janne Sjöblom Trio for the Masquerade De´ll Arte. Janne Sjöblom (piano), Rolf Olsson (up right bass), Jesper Kviberg (drums).
Private Jazz Venue at Hotel Radisson Blu Waterfront, Stockholm.
Mary Nelson with Julien Kohler and JOM Trio in concert at the release of jazzalbum "The meadows of my heart" (DoMusic).
Private Jazz Venue at Hotel Courtyard by Marriott, Stockholm with Mary Nelson (vocals) and Måns Ek (piano).
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and The Trinetts at Katalin, Uppsala
Mary sings jazz at VIP Party at Melt Bar&Restaurant, Stockholm with Daniel Lantz (piano).
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and The Trinetts, Trillers Café, Uppsala.
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and JOM Trio featuring Peter Asplund, Swan Bar, Paris
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and JOM Trio featuring Peter Asplund, Swan Bar, Paris
Wednesday Jazz with Mary Nelson and The Trinetts at Uplandia, Uppsala
Private Jazz Venue for Petré Event at opening night of Hotel Kungsträdgården, Stockholm
with jazz pianist Daniel Lantz.
Private Jazz Venue at The Globe Arena, Stockholm with jazz pianist Måns Ek.
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and Daniel Lantz Trio at HiJazz, Uppsala.
Film recording with Mary Nelson and Daniel Lantz Trio as featured artists with Mary Nelsons original music in Swedish Drama Series "Gåsmamman" with Tommy Körberg, Alexandra Rapaport and many more.
Private Jazz venue for Artisttorget at Strömma, Stockholm.
Mary Nelson with pianist Måns Ek.
Jazz at Melt Bar&Restaurant, Stockholm. Mary Nelson sings jazz with pianist Måns Ek.
Jazz at Melt Bar&Restaurant, Stockholm. Mary Nelson sings jazz with pianist Måns Ek.
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and The Trinetts at Katalin, Uppsala
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and Peter Schimke Trio at American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Mary Nelson with pianist Måns Ek in jazz concert at Fina Fisken, Trosa.
Mary Nelson with Janne Sjöblom Trio in "Somewhere over the rainbow" at Nalen, Stockholm.
Jazzbrunch at Restaurant RBG, Radisson Blu Stockholm Waterfront
Vocals: Mary Nelson, piano: Måns Ek
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and The Trinetts at Pub 19, Uppsala
Jazz Fridays: Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and The Trinetts at Park Inn by Radisson, Uppsala.
Jazzmässa with Mary Nelson and Daniel Lantz Trio in Mälarhöjdens kyrka.
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and The Trinetts at Broströms, Uppsala
Jazzbrunch at Restaurant RBG, Radisson Blu Stockholm Waterfront
Mary Nelson:vocals, piano: Filip Ekestubbe
Mary Nelson in concert at Sessions de Metropol, Bar Metropol Palais, Stockholm
Vocals: Mary Nelson, Piano: Filip Ekestubbe, Bass: Niklas Wennström
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and Daniel Lantz Three at Katalin, Uppsala
Jazzbrunch at Restaurant RBG, Radisson Blu Stockholm Waterfront.
Mary Nelson: vocals, Filip Ekestubbe: piano, Kenji Rabson: up right bass.
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and The Trinetts at Katalin, Uppsala
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and The Trinetts at Cajsas Jazzlunch, Uppsala
Live Jazz with Mary Nelson at Petré after work event.
Mary Nelson: vocals, Måns Ek: piano.
Private jazz venue in Stockholm, Mary Nelson with trio.
Jazz at Fina Fisken, Trosa
Vocals: Mary Nelson, Piano: Måns Ek
Jazz at Fina Fisken, Trosa
Vocals: Mary Nelson, Piano: Måns Ek
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson & Daniel Lantz Three, Kung Carls Onsdagsjazz, Uppsala
Mary Nelson with Filip Ekestubbe Trio plus special guest Frida Öhrn.
Mary Nelson: vocals, Filip Ekestubbe: piano, Niklas Fernqvist: bass, Daniel Fredriksson: drums.
Mary Nelson: vocals, Filip Ekestubbe: piano, Niklas Fernqvist: bass
Private jazz venue Petré event, Stockholm
Mary Nelson:vocals, Filip Ekestubbe: piano
Mary Nelson with Filip Ekestubbe Trio at Haymarket, Stockholm
Mary Nelson: vocals, Filip Ekestubbe: piano, Niklas Fernqvist: bass, Daniel Fredriksson: drums.
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and The Trinetts at Katalin, Uppsala
Vocals: Mary Nelson, Piano: Anders Bromander, Bass: Pal Johnson, Drums: Håkans Jansson Guest Vocals: Mikael Jansson
Jazzbrunch at Restaurant RBG, Radisson Blu Stockholm Waterfront.
Vocals: Mary Nelson, Piano: Filip Ekestubbe, Bass: Niklas Fernqvist.
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and The Trinetts at Cajsas Jazzlunch, Uppsala
Vocals: Mary Nelson, Piano: Emil Ingmar, Bass: Per V Johansson, Drums: Håkan Jansson
Jazzy Tuesday at Haymarket with music teaser from the jazz concert "Moon River and Me"
Vocals: Mary Nelson, Piano: Daniel Lantz
Jazzbrunch at Restaurant RBG, Radisson Blu Stockholm Waterfront.
Vocals: Mary Nelson, Piano: Filip Ekestubbe, Bass: Niklas Fernqvist
Jazz concert at Visby Jazzfestival with Mary Nelson, Peter Asplund, Ulf Johansson Werre and Daniel Tilling.
Jazz concert with Mary Nelson and The Trinetts at Cajsas Jazzlunch, Uppsala
Vocals: Mary Nelson, Piano: Emil Ingmar, Bass: Per V Johansson, Drums: Håkan Jansson
Private jazz venue, Stockholm
Vocals: Mary Nelson, Piano: Måns Ek
Antique Garage Tribeca, New York
Lauren Lee: vocals and piano, Mary Nelson: vocals
Stockholm Jazz Festival, Plugged Records
Mary Nelson guest artist with Peter Asplund Quartet
Stockholm Jazzfestival Week: Jazz at Boule Bar Tryckeriet
"The Streets of New York" is a musical journey through the streets of New York landing at addresses where music history was made. It is a collaboration between Mary Nelson and New York musicians Lauren Lee and Charley Sabatino.
Mary Nelson- vocals
Lauren Lee- piano and vocals
Charley Sabatino-bass
Stockholm Jazz Festival Week: "The Streets of New York" at jazzbrunch Radisson Blu Stockholm Waterfront
"The Streets of New York" with Mary Nelson: vocals, Lauren Lee: piano and vocals, Charley Sabatino: bass.
"The Streets of New York" is a musical journey through the streets of New York landing at addresses where music history was made. It is a collaboration between Mary Nelson and New York musicians Lauren Lee and Charley Sabatino.
Mary Nelson- vocals
Lauren Lee- piano and vocals
Charley Sabatino-bass
"The Streets of New York" is a musical journey through the streets of New York landing at addresses where music history was made. It is a collaboration between Mary Nelson and New York musicians Lauren Lee and Charley Sabatino.
Mary Nelson- vocals
Lauren Lee- piano and vocals
Charley Sabatino-bass
Moon River and Me - the music of Henry Mancini.
Vocals: Mary Nelson, Paino: Daniel Lantz, Bass: Tove Brandt, Drums: Håkan Jansson
Park Inn Hotel, Uppsala
Jazzmässa in Mälarhöjdens kyrka, Stockholm
Vocals: Mary Nelson, Piano: Filip Ekestubbe; Vocals and trumpet: Peter Asplund
Private Jazz Venue, Stockholm
Mary Nelson-vocals, Måns Ek-piano
Moon River and Me - the music of Henry Mancini.
Vocals: Mary Nelson, Paino: Daniel Lantz, Bass: Tove Brandt, Drums: Håkan Jansson
Katalin, Uppsala
Moon River and Me - the music of Henry Mancini.
Mary Nelson with Daniel Lantz Three at Katalin, Uppsala
Mary Nelson-vocals, Daniel Lantz-piano, Pal Johnson-bass, Håkans Jansson-drums
Jazzmässa i Sofia kyrka "The women of The Great American Songbook"
Mary Nelson-vocals
Peter Asplund-trumpet
Filip Ekestubbe-piano
Moon River and Me - the music of Henry Mancini.
Mary Nelson with Daniel Lantz Three at Jazz cruise, Eckerölinjen, Uppsala
Mary Nelson-vocals, Daniel Lantz-piano, Pal Johnson-bass, Håkan Jansson-drums
Moon River and Me - the music of Henry Mancini.
Mary Nelson with Daniel Lantz Three at Uppsala Castle, Uppsala
Mary Nelson-vocals, Daniel Lantz-piano, Pal Johnson-bass, Håkan Jansson-drums
Private Jazz Venue, Stockholm
Mary Nelson-vocals, Daniel Lantz-piano
Kulturnatten Jazz att Uppsala Concert Hall UKK with Daniel Lantz Three
Piano-Daniel Lantz
Bass-Tove Brandt
Drums-Daniel Olsson
Vocals-Mary Nelson
Moon River and Me-the music of Henry Mancini with Daniel Lantz Three.
Jazz at Uppsala Castle, Uppsala
Piano-Daniel Lantz
Bass-Pal Johnson
Drums-Håkan Jansson
Moon River and Me - the music of Henry Mancini. Mary Nelson with Daniel Lantz Three at Katalin Jazzclub, Uppsala
Piano-Daniel Lantz
Bass-Pal Johnson
Drums-Håkan Jansson
Jazz venue with Elias Källvik Trio at Malmö Live, Malmö
Elias Källvik-guitar, Simon Peterson-bass, Andreas Baw-drums
Mary Nelson-vocals
Moon River and Me - the music of Henry Mancini. Mary Nelson with Daniel Lantz Three.
Jazz at Kulturpunkten, Uppsala
Piano-Daniel Lantz
Bass-Pal Johnson
Drums-Håkan Jansson