Updated: August 14, 2020
Born: April 29, 1961
Vivify® Music Recording Artist and Benedetto Guitar Artist Brian Nova is considered one of the top Jazz Guitarists/Vocalists in the nation, according to a recent poll in Jazz Improv Magazine. Joe Pass said of Nova: ‘I feel Brian is one of the finest Jazz Guitarists on the scene!’ He has the distinction of being the only guitarist who was mentored by, and toured with the two titans of Jazz guitar: Herb Ellis and Joe Pass. Rock Icon Steve Miller says: ‘I’ve met and known a lot of guitarists in my career, and ‘B’ is the best guitarist I’ve ever met.’ Nova performs, and records, as a solo artist, with his Trio, Quartet, and his 18-piece Big Band. Brian is on Arturo Sandoval’s Grammy® Award winning CD ‘Dear Diz’, which garnered a Grammy® and 3 Latin Grammys® in 2013 on Concord Records. Brian was also just featured at the Iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem for Ella Fitzgerald’s 100th Birthday Celebration along with Liz Wright, Monica Mancini, Patti Austin, Andra Day, Cassandra Wilson and many others.
Nova has toured and performed with many of the Jazz elite including: Saxophonists - Eddie Harris, Illinois Jaquet, Danny Turner, Frank Foster, Tom Scott, Houston Person, Scott Hamilton, Dave Koz, Kenny G, Bobby Watson, Stanley Turrentine, Bud Shank, Pete Christleib, John Handy, Med Flory, Hadley Calman, Don Lamphere, Floyd Standifer, Bill Ramsey; Trumpeters - Arturo Sandoval, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Dizzy Gillespie, Terell Stafford, Clark Terry, James Morrison, Steve Madaio, Fred Radke, Mike Vax; Pianists - Oscar Peterson, Gerald Wiggins, Buddy Greco, Shelly Berg, Laurence Hobgood, Kenny Drew, Jessica Williams, Joe Fos, Roger Kellaway, Marc Seals, Larry Fuller and Benny Green; Bassists - Ray Brown, Red Mitchell, Neils Henning Orsted-Pederson, Jim Hughart, Jim DeJulio, Luther Hughes, Dave Carpenter, Terry Miller, Stu Hamm, Chuck Berghoffer, Marshall Hawkins, Andy Simpkins, Leroy Vinneger, Mads Vinding, Buddy Catlett, John Heard; Drummers - Gregg Field, Jeff Hamilton, Colin Bailey, Gary Novak, Mel Brown, Eddie Henderson, Dick Berk, Butch Miles, Bobby Durham, Paul Kreibich; Organists - Jimmy Smith & Brother Jack McDuff; Guitarists - Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, Larry Coryell, Barney Kessel, Mundell Lowe, John Pisano, John Stowell, Henry Johnson and Taj Mahal; Trombonists - James Morrison, Julian Priester, Fred Wesley (James Brown); Vibraphonists - Lionel Hampton, Christian Tambur, Louis Hjulmand, Kiyoko Ami and Ricky Kelly; Vocalists - Kurt Elling, Patti Austin, Ledisi, Diane Schuur, Joe Williams, Buddy Greco, Ernestine Anderson, Freddie Cole, Liz Wright, Dee Daniels, Jay Clayton, Greta Matassa, Mark Murphy; and Blues and Rock Legends Charlie Musselwhite, Al Jardine (Beach Boys), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Eric Burdon (Animals & War), Dave Mason, Joe Satriani, Mark O’Connor, Clint Black and Rock and Roll icon Steve Miller.
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- Joe Pass, 1994
“Brian is one of my favorite duet partners…..he goes for the groove.”
- Red Mitchell, 1996
“He is a true pleasure to play with. He’s my Man!” - Herb Ellis, 2000
Jazz Improv
Review of Shadow of Your Smile. “Nova has amazing
technique, which is obvious from the double-time
technical explosion he launches into the first chorus of his
solo on this first track. … one of the aspects
of a player’s musicianship that is exposed is the ability to play
a melody
Primary Instrument
Guitar
Location
Palm Springs
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
Director of Jazz Studies and Guiitar Studies - Seattle University 1990-1996
Clinic/Workshop Information
Solo Guitar

voice / vocals

bass, acoustic

piano

piano

guitar

saxophone, tenor

guitar, electric

guitar

guitar

piano