Fusion pianist to give concert at Snoqualmie Hospital

Published 4:44 pm Thursday, January 20, 2011

Concert pianist, jazz musician and folk-rock performer John Nilsen brings a piano performance to the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital lobby, 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22.

Nilsen, a resident of West Linn, Ore., fuses jazz, classical, folk and rock music. He is one of the Northwest’s most successful recording artists, with nearly one million records sold. He founded his record label, Magic Wing, in 1986.

He describes his musical influences as The Beatles, Neil Young, Pat Metheny Group and Bruce Cockburn, among other bands.

Taught by his mother to play piano, Nilsen transitioned to guitar and played as a guitarist and vocalist in many folk and rock bands in the ‘70s and ‘80s, before rediscovering the piano. Now, he is fluent as both a pianist and a folk-rock musician.

Learn more about Nilsen’s music at www.johnnilsen.com/home.html