Larry Nelson is currently the Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Eastern Kentucky University, where he teaches applied lessons in saxophone, directs the EKU Jazz Ensemble, the EKU Saxophone Quartet, and the jazz saxophone ensemble Saxophobia. He also teaches classes in Jazz History, Jazz Improvisation, and undergraduate and graduate Music History courses on a variety of topics. Larry is currently the Technology Chair for the Kentucky Music Educators Association.

An active performer on both saxophone and bass, Larry is a member of the EKU Faculty Jazz Quintet, the Osland Saxophone Quartet, the Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra, the Dimartino-Osland Jazz Orchestra, and appears frequently with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also performed with Ray Charles, Manhattan Transfer, the Temptations, Aretha Franklin, the Four Tops, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Lou Rawls, the Jimmy Dorsey orchestra, Ben Vereen, and many others artists of note. Recent performances include:

• Alto saxophone and flute with the DiMartino Osland Jazz Orchestra and guest artist Bob Mintzer; Comedy Off Broadway, Lexington, KY. April 27, 2009.
• Soprano alto, and tenor saxophone with the EKU Faculty Jazz Combo and guest artist Kendra Shank; Richmond Area Arts Council, April 24, 2009.
• Alto saxophone and flute with the DiMartino Osland Jazz Orchestra; Grand Theater, Frankfort, KY. October 30, 2009.
• Tenor saxophone, clarinet, and flute with the Manhattan Transfer. December 20, 2008.
• Alto and tenor saxophone as featured soloist with the Northern Kentucky University Vocal Jazz Ensemble; Blue Wisp Jazz Club, Cincinnati, OH. December 7, 2008.
• Soprano and alto saxophones and clarinet with the American Spiritual Ensemble tour of Spain - August 2008. Performances include Musica D'estiu al Castell de Bellver, Palma de Mallorca; 46 Festival Porta Ferrada, Sant Felieu de Guixols; Festival de Musica de Llivia, Llivia; Festival de Musica Vila de Rialp, Rialp.
• Alto saxophone with the DiMartino Osland Jazz Orchestra; Blue Wisp, Cincinati, OH. June 22, 2008.
• Alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, and clarinet for the Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra. Brock Auditorium, Richmond, KY; April 19, 2008.
• Alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet, and flute with Aretha Franklin; Norton Center for the Arts, Danville, KY; November 17, 2007. 
• Saxophone with the EKU Faculty Jazz Quintet – Fund raising benefit for WEKU radio with guest Bob Edwards of NPR’s “Morning Edition”; Acres of Land Winery, Richmond, KY., August 31, 2007.
• Alto saxophone and band leader for the Larry Nelson Big Band at the Richmond “Picnic at the Pops”; White Hall Richmond, Ky., August 18, 2007.
• Alto saxophone with the DiMartino Osland Jazz Orchestra - Memorial Concert for Kevin Toole featuring drummer Gregg Bissonette; Memorial Hall, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, June 22, 2007.
• Alto saxophone and flute with Johnny Mathis for UK Healthcare Appreciation dinner; Donamire Farm, Lexington, KY., June 2, 2007.
• Directed the EKU Jazz Ensemble with guest soloist Dave Hoffman (former featured trumpet soloist with the Ray Charles Orchestra); EKU Jazz Festival, Richmond, KY., April 28, 2007.
• Alto and tenor saxophone with Speakeasy and guest soloist Dave Hoffman; EKU Jazz Festival, Richmond, KY., April 28, 2007.
• Acoustic and electric bass with the EKU Faculty Jazz Quintet and guest soloist Dave Hoffman; Madison Garden, Richmond, KY., April
• Saxophone with Bob Mintzer, Rick Hirsch, and the DiMartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra at Comedy Off Broadway; April 24, 2006, Lexington, KY.
• Baritone saxophone on the premiere of Bob Minzer's "Music of the Americas" for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble at the Singletary Center for the Arts; April 23, 2006, Lexington, KY.
• Jim Brickman with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra (electric bass), Lexington, KY; December 20, 2005.
• Artist-in-residence with the Osland Saxophone Quartet sponsered by the Dubuque, IA Arts Council; March 7-19, 2005.
• Osland Saxophone Quartet; Bell Tower Theater – Dubuque, IA; March 14, 2005.
• Lou Rawls, Danville, KY, October 2, 2004.
• Gene Krupa Orchestra; Ashland, KY, May 17, 2004.
• North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference 2004, Greensboro, NC; World premiere performance of two works by by Mike Mower, commissioned by the Osland Saxophone Quartet.
• Performance by Eastern Kentucky University Saxophobia of two original pieces - "Eyes of a Child" and "New Kid in Town" - at the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Convention; University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
• Bob Mintzer at the Pittsburg State University Jazz Festival; Pittsburg, KS March 5, 2004.
• The Four Tops, Danville, KY, October 17, 2003.
• Manhattan Transfer, February and April 1998, June 1999.
• Ray Charles, March 1995 and June 1998.
• Temptations, May & October 1997.

Recent recordings include:

• Alto saxophone, clarinet, and acoustic bass on the Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra CD Flying Home, SeaBreeze 2009.
• Alto saxophone and flute on the Dimartino-Osland Jazz Orchestra CD Quotient, SeaBreeze 2007.
• Baritone Saxophone on Comission Impossible by the Osland Saxophone Quartet, SeaBreeze 2006. The recording features works comissioned by the ensemble from several noted contemporary composers.
• Baritone Saxophone and Acoustic Bass on In the Land of Ephesus by the Osland Saxophone Quartet.
• Acoustic and Electric Bass on Off the Charts by the Dimartino-Osland Jazz Orchestra.
• Baritone Saxophone on Kentucky Roastup by the Osland Saxophone Quartet; included on the recording is an original arrangement of "The Star-Spangled Banner".
• Electric Bass on My Old Kentucky Home by the Osland Saxophone Quartet.

Larry Nelson has also co-authored articles on music technology for the Bluegrass Music News and the Jazz Educators' Journal, and he has presented research papers at the annual convention of the International Association of Jazz Educators. His original compositions and arrangements are published by Walrus Music.

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