Nelson Rangell

小簡介
Nelson Rangell 在與GRP Big Band的合作中參與了非流行/爵士風(fēng)格的高音演唱，但Nelson本身的演繹生涯卻是以流行/爵士樂為主調(diào)的。他在上世紀90年代為GRP灌錄的唱片使他一躍成為現(xiàn)代流行爵士樂的焦點。
作為科羅拉多州的丹佛當?shù)厝?，Nelson Rangell在15歲開始便學(xué)習(xí)演奏長笛，并在Interlochen藝術(shù)學(xué)院學(xué)習(xí)了半年。不久之后，也就是在1979年，他又開始學(xué)習(xí)演奏薩克司，并在Downbeat杯重點高中爵士表演比賽中獲取殊榮。高中畢業(yè)后，他進入波士頓的新英格蘭音樂學(xué)院進修。在大學(xué)期間，他又一次在Downbeat杯爵士演奏比賽中獲獎。1984年，Rangell移居紐約。他在紐約的俱樂部里演出了三年，演出的風(fēng)格不僅再局限于爵士樂，還包括了蘇格蘭快步舞曲及流行樂曲。
Rangell在1987年正式開始了自己的獨創(chuàng)藝術(shù)生涯，在Gaia旗下發(fā)表了專集《To Begin Again》。兩年后，他轉(zhuǎn)簽至GRP名下，并發(fā)表了專集《Playing For Keeps》。他的第二張專集立即成為現(xiàn)代爵士樂壇的新寵，隨后便每發(fā)行一張專集，其歡迎程度也便逐漸增長。接下來他發(fā)行的四張專集——1990年的《Nelson Rangell》，1992年的《In Every Moment》，1993年的《Truest Heart》以及1994年的《Yes Then Yes》——均處于現(xiàn)代爵士樂最受歡迎專集之列。除了發(fā)行獨唱專集以外，Rangell還參與了GRP All-Star Big Band室內(nèi)及室外的音樂制作。
1994年，在發(fā)行的《Destiny》這張專集中，Rangell加入了黑人靈魂音樂中的hip-hop節(jié)奏。1997年，專集《Turning Night Into Day》又緊接著面市，隨后的第三年，專集《Far Away Day》又新鮮出爐了。
by Scott Yanow & Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Nelson Rangell has primarily played pop-jazz throughout his career, although he did a credible job playing some soulful alto with the straight-ahead GRP All-Star Big Band. The records he cut for GRP in the early 90s made him into a popular contemporary jazz attraction in the David Sanborn tradition.
A native of Denver, CO, Rangell learned how to play flute at the age of 15, and within six months, he was studying music at the Interlochen Arts Academy. Shortly afterward, he learned the saxophone, and in 1979 he won Down Beats Best High School Jazz Soloist competition. Following his graduation from high school, he attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston; this time, he won the Down Beat contest on the college level. In 1984, Rangell moved to New York. He spent three years in New York playing clubs and working as a sideman, not only on jazz sessions, but also on jingles and pop records.
Rangell finally began his solo career in 1987, releasing To Begin Again on the Gaia label. Two years later, he moved to GRP, where he released Playing for Keeps. His second album became a major contemporary jazz hit, and with each subsequent release, his popularity grew. His next four albums — Nelson Rangell (1990), In Every Moment (1992), Truest Heart (1993), Yes Then Yes (1994) — were all popular on the contemporary jazz charts. In addition to recording his solo albums, Rangell was involved in the GRP All-Star Big Band, playing both in the studio and on the road.
Destiny, an album that found Rangell incorporating hip-hop rhythms into his sound, was released in 1994. It was followed in 1997 by Turning Night into Day; Far Away Day appeared three years later. In 2003, Rangell released his 12th album, the typically smooth and eclectic Look Again, followed by a collection of Christmas essentials (All I Hope for Christmas) and the instrumental pop tribute album My American Songbook, Vol. 1. Soul to Souls was released in 2006.