Based in Nashville, TN, Leland Nelson offers versatility, technical facility, and musicality in every situation presented to him. His repertoire of instruments includes upright bass, 4, 5, and 7 string bass guitars, fretless bass guitar, vocals, and acoustic guitar. As a teenager, he performed at both the Detroit International Jazz Festival and Jazz at Lincoln Center, and he gained recording experience in LA, among other accomplishments. His success continued during undergrad with recording and gigging in Strasbourg, France with drummer Didier Hoffman, former bandmate of jazz guitar heavy Bireli Lagrène. From 2018 to 2020, Leland worked in the New York City music scene, freelancing his way around the myriad venues in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Long Island. There he served as a sideman for several acts such as Kristina Koller, Owen Chen, Rodney Ruckus, Mike Shuler (a.k.a. Storytellers), and Caroline Lazar. In addition, his time as the bass player for jazz/indie pop artist Jake Benjamin led to recording and co-writing credits on Jake’s upcoming album with Sound on Sound Studios. Leland also collaborated with guitarist/producer Steve Bilodeau (a.k.a. Billa Joints) alongside drummer/fellow producer Gabe Warshaw (a.k.a. Tompkins). The two featured Leland on bass for their single “Trudy” in December 2019, and a future EP release from the producer duo will also feature Nelson’s prowess on the low end. During the summer of 2020, Leland offered up his upright bass skills on Turning by the Colin Dorion Trio, an excellent showcase of originals and arrangements from drummer Colin Dorion.
Although his days as a Nashville musician have only just begun, Leland has already established ties with many other talented professionals in the area. You can find him accompanying some of the best singer songwriters in the independent country scene, most notably names such as Kayley Hill, Will Jones, Kensie Coppin, and Emma Zinck.