About the Artist

New Nostalgia is a Chicago-based fusion horn band, blending jazz, pop and rock flavors together in hard-hitting instrumental ensemble arrangements. Led by saxophonist and composer/ arranger Neil Carson, New Nostalgia straddles genre lines with intricate arranging and improvisation, singable melodies, and unstoppable rock energy.

Compared to some jazz music, New Nostalgia’s music is really demanding, highly notated and specific. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle, where the song only works if all the parts are arranged and performed just right.

That being said, I do try to find pockets in the music for everyone to have their moments of creative freedom––and I’ve come to rely on a lot of the band members to exercise that freedom. I could never come up with the fills + textures that Brandon (our guitarist) plays, or the wild, endlessly varied interludes that Larry (our pianist) comes up with between tunes on our gigs.

I think, as a saxophonist, I get a lot of satisfaction playing a part just as the composer intended it––realizing their vision. So I’m super grateful to have bandmates who are willing to see my vision and use their insane musicianship to help us get there together

-Neil Carson (Alto Saxophone, & Band Leader)