Award winning Pianist/Arranger/Composer Andy Nevala has been recognized by Downbeat Magazine on 9 different occasions, winning Downbeat Music Awards for composition (2002), arranging (2003), and performing/directing (2000, 2000, 2002). He completed a Master of Music in Theory and Composition from UNC in 2000, and recently completed a Doctorate in Jazz Piano Performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

His newest CD, "Alone Together", was internationally released in 2007 on the Capri Label. He has toured Canada, Europe, Japan, South America, and has performed in every state in the US except Alaska and Hawaii as a sideman and with his own groups.

While at UNC he directed and performed in Combo's I and II, winning downbeat awards for Outstanding Performance by a College Combo and Best Blues/Pop/Rock Group winner, respectively. At UNC he performed with Conrad Hertwig, Brian Lynch, Louis Bellson, Peter Erskine, and Pete Fountain, as well as opened for Kurt Elling, Russell Malone, Poncho Sanchez and McCoy Tyner.

While at the University of Colorado, Boulder, he performed in Jazz Ensemble I and Combo I, winning downbeat awards for Outstanding Performance Original Song, Jazz Arrangement Co-Winner, Outstanding Group (Combo I) and Outstanding Jazz Ensemble (CU Jazz Ensemble I). At CU, he performed with Chris Potter, Jiggs Whigam, and James Carter. Andy has also been commission to arrange for the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Denver Brass, the Steve Lippia Big Band, Conjunto Colores, his own groups, and has recorded on over 20 CD’s released in the US, Japan, and South America.

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