Background
Nightingale was born in Evesham.
Nightingale was born in Evesham.
He attended Trinity College of Music from 1985-1988.
He began on trombone at age nine, and played in the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in his teens. He performed at the 1989 International Trombone Workshop with a trombone quintet called Bonestructure. Following this he was asked to return to play at workshops in Germany in 1992, in the United States. in 1994, and in Austria in 1996.
Nightingale toured and recorded with James Morrison in Europe from 1994 to 1997.
He has also composed for trombone. Published works include 20 Jazz Etudes (1995) and Multiplicity (1996).
Among those with whom Nightingale has played with are John Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Urbie Green, Carl Fontana, Jiggs Whigham, Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Thilo Berg, Alan Barnes, Bill Holman, Claire Martin, John Wilson, Clark Tracey, and Stan Tracey. He occasionally directs the British Broadcasting Corporation Big Band and can often be heard in the band"s trombone section.
He also plays trombone on Sting"s album Ten Summoner"s Tales.
Nightingale was the first customer of Michael Rath Trombones, and remains a Rath artist/clinician. His personal instruments are the Rath R10 and R4F.