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Sara Gazarek/Josh Nelson Live Session

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Vocalist Sara Gazarek and pianist Josh Nelson have aligned their musical spirits in a way that would make any artistic duo envious. Gazarek’s top flight interpretations of the vast and varied American songbook are buoyed by the sensitivity of Nelson’s supple command and they have transfixed audiences from New York to Tokyo. They have a telepathic understanding that has come about through more than a decade of friendship, not just hundreds of hours on the bandstand and it blankets any audience lucky enough to hear their swinging high-wire act of trust and commitment.

Championed by some of music’s most celebrated figures, Sara Gazarek has emerged as a strikingly original artist with limitless potential. With three highly acclaimed CD’s under her belt, Sara has been hailed by the LA Times as “the next important jazz singer,” and “impeccable,” by the Winnipeg Free Press.

Blessed with a gorgeous, translucent voice, excellent pitch, and supple sense of time, Gazarek is steeped in the jazz tradition, but is not afraid to embrace the music that moves her generation. Her newest CD, Blossom & Bee (2012), was released to rave reviews, as Nick Mondello of Jazz Times has noted “Blossom & Bee’ has all the beauty, bite and superb workings of a winner. It’s as good – or better – than some recent Grammy-nominated or winning female vocalist efforts.” Sara is currently on faculty at the University of Southern California, leading the award-winning vocal jazz ensemble there and teaching privately.

Born and raised in Southern California, Josh Nelson is a first-call jazz pianist, composer, teacher, and recording artist. At 35 years old, he has already performed and worked with some of the most respected names in music, including Natalie Cole, Queen Latifah, John Clayton, Walter Smith III, Ben Wendel, Seamus Blake and Matt Wilson.

Josh has produced music for countless albums, films, and television, but also makes time for his own projects including Anticipation (2004), Let it Go (2007), I Hear a Rhapsody (2009), and Discoveries (2011). His new album Exploring Mars (Origin Records) features striking new original music, with a love-letter jazz tribute to the Red Planet. 

Gazarek and Nelson's new duo record is due out soon, following a successful PledgeMusic campaign.

As FM Network Program Director and Music Director, Eric oversees many aspects of JPR's broadcast day. He still hosts the occasional Open Air or classical music shift, and is the driving force behind JPR Live Sessions - our popular series of live in-studio music performances and conversations.