Jazz pianist Nelda Swiggett is a Northwest native, and has been active on Seattle’s music scene since the early 90’s. She’s headlined at many of the Northwest’s top jazz venues, including the Earshot Jazz Festival, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley and the Bellevue Jazz Festival. Her trio with longtime band mates Chris Symer (bass) and Adam Kessler (drums) explore a rich palette of colors and rhythms in Nelda’s melodic originals, drawing from her many influences – jazz, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, gospel, funk, classical and more. Her talent for composition has been recognized by an Artist Trust Fellowship as well as first place in the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra’s international Jazz Composition Contest for Women Composers. Her five CD releases to date receive airplay around the globe, including frequent plays on the Northwest’s premiere jazz station KNKX. Nelda’s piano trio CD This Time (OA2 Records 2010) was praised as a “stunning project” (JazzTimes), and her piano playing described “a bright palette, a sinewy execution and a powerful, assertive command” (AllAboutJazz.com). Jim Wilke (Jazz After Hours PRI/NPR) selected This Time for his “Best Northwest Jazz CDs of 2010.”