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My Story:


Welcome! This web site is dedicated to my creative life in music and art.

My name is Mel Nusbaum.  Originally from Chicago, I grew up playing guitar. I studied music and started playing piano as well. I love all forms of music. I moved to New York City to play jazz, blues, latin, funk, freejazz, doowop, rock, pop, and whatever with all kinds of terrific groups. I enjoy playing at clubs, concerts, festivals, and parties. I love harmonies. I compose lots of original music: jazz tunes, bossa novas, ballads, beats, funky jazz riffs, and songs for people to enjoy.

As you browse this site, you can hear examples of my guitar and piano playing. You are welcome to sample free selections from concerts and music albums that I have produced. So, please help yourself. 

I hope you enjoy my work. Feel free to click the 'Contact' menu above to send your feedback and comments if you like. Thanks for visiting!


What's up:


The Edna Kawulitzki Gallery
Located in the Tenafly Public Library
welcomes you to our glorious open display space,
and proudly presents:

March 1 through April 30, 2024
A Free Exhibit
Mel's Art Zone
In The Hall of Light: Kinetic/Aesthetic
An Art Installation by Mel Nusbaum


ON DISPLAY:

- Light Play: Holographic Vinyl Dazzle Creations
- Luminescent Panels and Glow-thru Cutouts
- The Electrical Building of Chicago, 1893 - 3D Collage

- The Vortex - Neon Motion Sculpture ("Vortxt.msg")
- Illuminated Atwater-Kent 1932 Cathedral Radios
- The Guitar of Guitars - Video Construction and 3D Collage
- Pinups of Classic 40's + 50's Cars
- Word Salad / Graffiti Posters

Tenafly Public Library
100 Riveredge Road
Tenafly, NJ 07670
201-568-8680
www.tenaflylibrary.org
Hours:
Monday: 10am - 9pm
Tuesday: 10am - 9pm
Wednesday: 10am - 5pm
Thursday: 10am - 9pm
Friday: 10am - 5pm
Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Sunday: 12pm - 4pm

And,

There's nothing like being in the same room with the audience, hearing real sounds, swinging, and getting into a great groove. Now that Covid is easing up a little bit, I am getting together with other musicians and playing concerts live in person again. With my friends Scott Avidon on tenor sax, Chris Pasin on trumpet, Mike Richmond on bass, and Eliot Zigmund on drums, we played a concert at the Tenafly Library recently that was a creative high point. I was particularly excited to present my new arrangement of John Coltrane's "Moment's Notice". It is one of my favorite tunes, and I updated it with an innovative arrangement that forges connections between Contrane's early hard bop, modal, and later, spiritual, periods of his career. For lovers of old standards, we played "It Might As Well Be Spring" but with a fresh twist - as a waltz!. It's nice to think about Spring any time of year, right? Might as well. 3/4 time is more Springlike, in my opinion.

I'm constantly thinking about music. I write down all the new tunes that come to me. My latest jazz tune is called "Legacy". It's dedicated to the ageless spirit of music. And, I've got a new one called "Same Old Old News Blues" (you read that right!). But it's not old news!! Another one is "Elevation" which is designed to lift you into the innerverse. We unveiled Elevation at a recent concert. It worked as intended: audience members' feedback included 'uplifting', 'energized', 'swinging', 'great', and best of all, 'put us in a great mood'. How about that? My best ideas become part of "The Mel Book", a collection of my many musical creations. Our concerts include originals, plus standards, ballads, and blues that audiences love. I enjoy performing and sharing my feelings through music.

Fans have heard my music at festivals, clubs and concerts around New York including the Palisades Interstate Park "Music on the Rocks" concerts, The Tenafly Library Sunday concert series, the Jazz Forum Summer Concerts in Westchester, Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center, Westbeth NYC, the Fort Lee Library, the Riverview Jazz Festival, Hoboken Arts and Culture Festival, and lots of other places..

I appreciate that people react positively to my music and art. I'm encouraged and am looking to express more creative feelings. Please feel free to browse this site and help yourself to the sounds and pictures. I hope you enjoy it, and I invite you to share your feedback.

I feel fortunate that my days and nights are filled with beautiful music.



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Flowing River and Swinging Music!
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Eclectic Jazz/Rock!
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Strings of Happiness!