Praised for the “breathtaking singing quality of his sound” by jazz icon John McNeil and as a “musician of the highest order” by renowned orchestral trumpeter Charles Daval, Ryan Nielsen’s lyricism and versatility are rare. His artistry grows out of a love of groove, spirit, and beautiful melody. He began performing professionally at 17, and has since been a guest artist at concerts and festivals throughout the United States.
Nielsen’s debut album, Gift of Breath (a joint project with his mentor, Ra Kalam Bob Moses) was selected by the New York City Jazz Record as a 2017 Recommended New Release. Ra Kalam, whose previous work was selected by the Smithsonian as a landmark in jazz history, called Gift of Breath, “One of the deepest, most soulful and creative recordings I've ever done.”
In 2016, Nielsen was named trumpeter in the Kobie Watkins Grouptet. Perhaps best known for his extensive work with jazz legend, Sonny Rollins, Watkins formed his Grouptet from across the country. Their first album, Movement, was released on Origin Records to international critical acclaim. The Chicago Tribune named it one of the ten best albums of 2018, alongside artists like Joe Lovano, Stefon Harris, Don Byron, and Dave Douglas.
As a graduate student at Arizona State University, Nielsen studied with David Hickman and Mike Kocour, and received of the Doc Severinsen award for outstanding classical and jazz trumpet. He went on to pursue doctoral studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he studied with John McNeil, Ra Kalam Bob Moses, and Tom Rolfs. Nielsen loves teaching students of all ages, and has a reputation as a passionate and inspiring teacher. He is currently Associate Professor of Trumpet at Utah Valley University.
