Sean Nelson

Born: September 8, 1983

Sean Nelson is the leader and founder of the New London Big Band. By day, he is enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he plays trombone with the Coast Guard Band?’s concert band and jazz ensembles, serves as staff arranger?, and is music director for both the Beacons Jazz Ensemble and the Guardians Big Band.? Sean also serves as jazz trombone instructor at the University of Connecticut.

??As an arranger and composer, Sean worked on the production team for the 2015 National Christmas Tree Lighting, creating several arrangements for guests including Andra Day, Kelsea Ballerini, and Tori Kelly. This program was performed for the Obama family and heard nationally on PBS. ?Sean composed the official song for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officer corps (one of the eight federal uniformed services), sung by all recruits at basic officer training as well as other official events. ?He has won the National Band Association Young Composers Jazz Composition Contest and is a two­ time winner of Downbeat Magazine’s Student Jazz Arranging Contest. He currently works as the arranger for Sam Houston State University Bearkat Marching Band, writing new shows each season. Sean's big band arrangements are published at iJazzmusic.com.

Michael Dease, Spike Wilner, Bobby West, Antonia Bennett and more

by Benjamin Boddie
June 26, 2025

Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by Michael Dease, Spike Wilner Trio, Bobby West, Antonia Bennett, Alon Farber & Hagiga, Dom Salvador, Mark Masters Ensemble, Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell, Neff Irizarry, Mads Tolling, Danny Grissett, Luc��a, Tyler Henderson, Sharel Cassity, Dee Dee Bridgewater & Bill Charlap, Jed Levy, Hiromi, Freedom Art Quartet, Ben Sidran, James ...

Jed Levy, Kandace Springs, Leon Anderson, Behn Gillece and more

by Benjamin Boddie
June 12, 2025

Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by Charles Rouse, Jed Levy, Bill O'Connell, Doug Wyatt, Joe Lovano, Reginald Cyntje, Eric Scott Reed, Beatle Jazz, Royce Campbell, John Clayton, Jane Ira Bloom, Kandace Springs, George Colligan, Albare, Pete McGuinness, Marilyn Kleinberg, Leon Anderson, Posi-Tone Swingtet, Behn Gillece, Charles Chen, Greg Murphy, Saul Dautch, Greg Hopkins, Mark Masters, and ...

Behn Gillece, Charles Chen, Greg Murphy, Masha Campagne and more

by Benjamin Boddie
June 6, 2025

Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by Behn Gillece, Charles Chen, Greg Murphy, Masha Campagne, Brad Turner, Saul Dautch, Greg Hopkins, Sandra-Mae Lux, Mike Prigodich, Mark Masters, Tyler Henderson, Dale Fielder, Robert Turner, Jeffrey Gimble, Sean Nelson, Diego Rivera, Bill Stewart, Deborah Silver, Carlos Mena, Brandon Woody, James Moody, Cyrus Chestnut, Kandace Springs, John Clayton, Sharel Cassity, ...

Albare, Pete McGuinness, Royce Campbell and Vosbein Magee, Marilyn Kleinberg and more

by Benjamin Boddie
May 29, 2025

Today's Music--Right Now! ... Fantastic music by Albare, Pete McGuinness, Royce Campbell and Vosbein Magee, Marilyn Kleinberg, Bob James & Dave Koz, Rob Clearfield, Dave Robbins, Gillian Margot & Geoffrey Keezer, Leon Anderson, Posi-Tone Swingtet, Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Cyrus Chestnut, Rodney Jordan, Nnenna Freelon, Max Leake, Eric Alexander, Reid Hoyson, John Stein, The Empress, Steve Allee, ...

Past, Present, And, Future Sounds

by Bob Osborne
May 15, 2025

The most fascinating and enduring aspect of jazz, and other improvised music, is its' capacity to surprise the listener. This week a diverse collection of pieces that deliver different and ground breaking new sounds. At the centre Ingrid Laubrock's unique new album which is meets this specification and more. And to close a classic album from ...

Jed Levy, Bill O'Connell, Gina Saputo, Sean Nelson and more

by Benjamin Boddie
May 1, 2025

Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by Charles Rouse, Jed Levy, Bill O'Connell, Gina Saputo, Sean Nelson, Doug Wyatt, Joe Lovano, Igmar Thomas, Reginald Cyntje, Franck Amsallem, Russ Spiegel, Dave Robbins, Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Lyn Stanley, Reid Hoyson, Nels Cline, Thomas Marriott, Aron!, Nancy Kelly, Triology, Altin Sencalar, Sharel Cassity, Hiromi, John Ellis, Jeff Libman, Nnenna Freelon, ...

George Coleman, Reggie Watkins, Leon Anderson & Sean Nelson

by Joe Dimino
March 30, 2025

The 899th episode of Neon Jazz kicks off with a blast of energy, as trombonist Sean Nelson leads the charge with the New London Big Band, setting the tone with a fiery track from his brand-new 2025 album, Don't Stop Now. From there, we pay tribute to one of Sean's greatest inspirations--the legendary Harry James--before diving ...

New Releases, Grammy Winners, Birthday Celebrations For Blanche Calloway, Carole King & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
February 19, 2024

This broadcast includes new releases from Ed Johnson & Novo Tempo, Alliance (led by Sharel Cassity and Coleen Clark), Tierney Sutton and Nubya Garcia, with nods to several Grammy winners and birthday shoutouts to Blanche Calloway, Chick Webb, Carmen Staaf, Jen Allen, and Carole King, among others. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you ...

Sean Nelson's New London Big Band: Social Hour

by Chris M. Slawecki
October 17, 2022

"For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to have my own big band--an epic jazz orchestra of 17+ musicians," writes trombonist Sean Nelson in the liner notes to this set named for the 17-piece New London Big Band's home base, The Social Bar + Kitchen in New London, Connecticut. Nelson, also a ...