nels cline

Nels Cline is widely regarded as one of the most versatile and creative guitarists of his  generation. Over the course of a career spanning more than 200 recordings, he has led  numerous groups, collaborated across genres from jazz to rock to experimental music, and  been a full-time member of Wilco for over two decades. 

One of Cline’s most ambitious works is Lovers, a project first envisioned in the 1980s, and  conceived of as a darker take on atmospheric “mood music”. The album weaves together jazz  standards with works by Sonic Youth, Annette Peacock, The Ambitious Lovers, and Cline  himself, and is an expansive exploration of some less-traveled aspects of romance, love, and  sex. 

Longtime friend/poet/producer David Breskin, championed the idea for years before helping  secure funding to make this project possible. When Cline met composer/arranger Michael  Leonhart, he found a co-conspirator who shared his vision, and through hard work and  inspiration they brought the project to life. 

The team of Cline, Breskin, and Leonhart assembled a 23-piece ensemble and recorded over  five days, with an additional day for strings and harp. What began as an almost overwhelming  concept became an 18-track double album that unfolds like a musical memoir, moving from  Nels’ early jazz influences to later experimental inspirations, honoring friends, mentors, and  personal milestones.