New Nostalgia is a high-energy 9-piece instrumental jazz/rock fusion band based in Chicago, Illinois. Led by saxophonist and award-winning composer/arranger Neil Carson, the ensemble blends the sophistication of jazz, the accessibility of pop, and the raw intensity of rock into a genre-defying experience. Known for their intricate arrangements, dynamic horn section, and virtuosic ensemble playing, New Nostalgia delivers a compelling mix of original compositions and reimagined covers that captivate both seasoned listeners and new audiences alike.

Formed in 2017, the group began with a vision: to fuse the improvisational depth of jazz with the powerful hooks and emotional immediacy of popular music. Their debut performance in a small coffee shop in 2017 set the tone —— intimate setting, explosive energy. Since then, New Nostalgia has packed venues and festivals across the Midwest, received two ISJAC (International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers) awards, and earned praise from DownBeat Magazine, who described their debut album as “power-polychord instrumental rock at its finest...embracing a rock aesthetic while showcasing fiery improvisations.”

New Nostalgia has released two studio albums, a covid-era EP, and countless singles. Their work continues to push boundaries —— combining the intricate and the accessible, the horn-heavy and the hard-rocking. Whether in an intimate club or on a festival stage, New Nostalgia offers a bold, fresh take on instrumental music that you just have to see to believe.