Mark Nelson is a popular Chicago-based pianist and keyboardist, a versatile and accomplished performer, whose credits include local performances, touring, and studio recordings. He plays jazz, musicals, Afro-Cuban Salsa and folkloric styles, cover and original rock projects, Brazilian, classical, and gospel music. He regularly performs or has recorded with The Mark Nelson Trio, the Latin jazz-fusion ensemble, Contrabanda, the No Reservations Orchestra, Johnny Blas’s Afro Libre, The Joshua Jern Orchestra, The Vern Spevak Big Band, Somewhere Sunny, the Nine Worlds Ensemble, the choirs of Bolingbrook and Romeoville High School, St. Charles North's Vocal Jazz Ensembles and as a freelancer, “wherever the phone rings.” Mark also frequently serves as a worship musician and bandleader, and has worked with numerous Chicago area churches, including The Compass, Crossroads, Calvary Church Naperville and Community Christian. He has previously been a guest artist for the Interstate Eight Swing/Jazz Clinic, Seneca Jazz Festival, the IMEA All State Music Convention, and Bolingbrook: Jazz Under The Stars festivals, the Elkhart and Chicago Jazz Festivals, and the Chicago Latin Jazz Festival. Mark has performed with artists such as Mark Colby, Howard Levy, Vern Spevak, Peter Oprisko, Shawn Maxwell, John Musick of Chapter 6, Ian Maksin, Gabriel Datcu, and Marvin Stamm. He earned a degree in Jazz Studies: Piano from North Central College.