Carole is a London-born jazz pianist, saxophonist, composer and educator currently living in Co. Carlow. In 2015 she formed the Carole Nelson Trio, with herself on piano, Cormac O'Brien on bass and Dominic Mullan on drums. A debut album was released in 2017. One Day in Winter was inspired by the landscape in South County Carlow, between the Blackstairs Mountains and the River Barrow, and followed the course of one winter's day from sunrise to moonrise. Carole's compositions were described as 'an elegiac meditation' – Irish Times, and 'Nelson’s piano has a melodicism that brings to mind players such as Keith Jarrett' – Jazz Ireland.

The trio's 2020 recording, Arboreal, supported by the Irish Arts Council and Carlow Arts, has an ecological theme running throughout, an awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things. ‘A rare and exceptional talent’ – The Irish Times. Since all concerts have been cancelled for 2020, Carole has been performing a Youtube concert series, Live from the Living Room, playing solo piano music from the album.

Carole continues to work with ArtPop group Zrazy, a singer/songwriter partnership with vocalist Maria Walsh since 1992. In that time the duo have released five albums of award-winning music and performed at festivals and venues world-wide.

Previous composition includes music for choirs, theatre and dance, including The Trojan Women at the Peacock Theatre and Ladies and Gentlemen by Emma Donahue.

Carole currently teaches piano, saxophone, voice and improvisation to private students. She is a practising Zen Buddhist and gardener.