Carole Nelson Trio

The Carole Nelson Trio debuted at the 2015 Dublin Piano Trio Festival. Centred around Carole’s composition and piano work and accompanied by Cormac O'Brien on bass and Dominic Mullan on drums, the trio have since recorded four albums.

The trio’s first recording project, One Day in Winter (2017), was released independently in Ireland on Carole's own Blackstairs Records label. It was reviewed enthusiastically by critics and jazz audiences.

“A finely-wrought meditation that taps into the spacious European piano trio tradition of Tord Gustavsen and Marcin Wasilewski” — Cormac Larkin, Irish Times.

Following two tours of Irish festivals and arts centres, the trio released their second album, Arboreal (2020), with the support of an Irish Arts Council composition bursary and Carlow Arts Office. Arboreal explores an artist’s response to our current ecological catastrophe. It has received critical acclaim, with inclusion in the Irish Times best albums of 2020 so far and one of the best ten albums of 2020 in All About Jazz Magazine UK.

“a particularly elegant piece of work from a rare talent” — Irish Times

“Nelson is, without question, as the refined language of her writing and playing constantly reiterates, a singular voice” — All About Jazz UK

A third trio album, Night Vision (2022), premiered at Bray Jazz Festival supporting the Tord Gustavsen Trio. This music dives into a dark dreaming: other species, silences of birth and death and meditation. The development of the trio is evident here as they dig deep into the creative flow of free improvisation, finding a new and fearless triadic voice.

“a wonderful mix of query, quietude and clarity” — Irish Times, 10 best albums of 2022 so far.

“one of the most arresting piano trios in Ireland or the UK today” — All About Jazz

In 2024, Carole received the Ban Bam award for women composers in jazz and improvised music. This led to performances at Manchester Jazz Festival and London Jazz Festival and to a fourth Carole Nelson Trio album, Through the Storm, released on Livia Records in October 2025. This work explores the fragility and resilience of the natural world.

“an exquisitely engaging record” — Jazz Journal UK

The Carole Nelson Trio have chosen a path of developing together. Their ten-year journey shows the depth and integrity that must emerge from committed collaboration.