John Nilsen

  • John Nilsen - October In September [Eagle Records SM 4198] (1986)

Biography

John Nilsen was born in Seattle, Washington in 1956. The Nilsen family moved to Portland, Oregon in 1960. Nilsen began studying classical piano from his mother at age six. Continuing his musical education, he began playing guitar at age fourteen. John moved to Ashland, Oregon in 1974 to attend Southern Oregon College (Southern Oregon University). Nilsen graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts in English, and was honored by the institution in 1995 with the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the most prestigious award of Southern Oregon University graduates. Nilsen founded the Magic Wing recording label in 1987. The label has a catalog of fourteen successful titles, each with international distribution.

Upon occasion an artist delivers something special and unique by separating himself from others. Such is the case with John Nilsen's newest CD on Magic Wing, PLACES I GO. A collection of eleven songs, PLACES I GO, is John's first solo piano recording in twenty-four years. The recording features nine original compositions which colorfully combine elements of folk, classical and jazz. As Nilsen himself said, ''I feel fortunate to have tracked these songs and placed them alongside one another on a CD. I've been looking forward to recording a solo project for a long time and the timing was right. Yet, my forthcoming project will be a combination of guitar, piano, vocal and non vocal. I figured on my 18th recording I would cover a lot of ground musically and get SWIMFISH back into the mix. The recording will be released in June, 2012 and promises to deliver.''

Nilsen's solo piano recording, PLACES I GO, was preceded by the stellar 2006 recording, JOHN NILSEN and SWIMFISH, featuring John's guitar work, vocals and singer/songwriter skills. JOHN NILSEN and SWIMFISH is a very talented folk-rock band with strong emphasis on vocal harmony and originality. Original member of the rock band, AMERICA, Dan Peek writes, ''Major kudos on your John Nilsen and SWIMFISH CD. The music is superb, the lyrics inspired and the production/arranging is top notch. The songwriting hangs together well and the tracks flow, carving out a groove as natural as a river carves a canyon. You deserve to be heard.'' These two recent releases validate Nilsen's commitment to evolve not only as a composer, but as a successful and diverse recording artist and multi-instrumentalist in a music world where too much change is frowned upon.

''John's music has a magical quality to it. Each new recording seems to be his best,'' praises a long time KINK radio DJ in Portland, Oregon. One of the Northwest's largest selling musical artists, Nilsen has released seventeen recordings, most on his highly successful independent record company, Magic Wing. John has also had recordings released in Germany, Taiwan, Canada, Philippines, Great Britain and Singapore bringing reported sales to nearly one million copies.

Famed guitarist Guthrie Thomas is credited with launching Nilsen's music career twenty-seven years ago. Thomas knew then what we know now, that Nilsen was a player and a talent. He invited Nilsen to record on his Eagle Records label in LA and there a career was born.

As his parents once told him, all things in balance... rehearse hard, play hard. Nilsen does just that. With 240 annual performances including national tours of the United States, Europe and Japan, the rewards of his diligence are unmistakable. He has earned a devout following of listeners and with his international distribution, his popularity continues to grow.

Often accompanied by many of the very finest musicians from the Northwest, Nilsen is an innovative performer who creates an intimate repartee with his audience. ''As a performer, I like exploring beyond the boundaries of my recorded songs. It gives me the chance to offer something special, spontaneous and personal to my audience. The entire performance hinges on the connection not only between the players, but with the audience as well.''

Nilsen has appeared with such luminaries as Jose Feliciano, Jesse Colin Young, David Foster, Alex De Grassi, Kenny G and many others. His recordings are featured on over forty musical collections and samplers throughout the globe, including a Rhino Records Sampler. Extensive radio play furthers Nilsen's ever-growing audience. As Chicago radio personality Rick O'Dell observes, ''John is one of our show's most requested and talked about artists.''

Like many artists, travel, outdoor activities and family are rich sources of fuel for Nilsen's creative drive. Yet, it is the intense clarity with which he is able to translate his experiences into music that distinguishes him. Nilsen brings us songs of life. From the bustle of a French cafe to the torrent of a raging stream, Nilsen's music inspires us to look more carefully, to feel more deeply and to celebrate this life of ours. [www.mainlypiano.com]