"For this engagement, Moody has convened an alert rhythm section. Pianist Michael Kocour, a former Chicagoan, still commands an exquisitely crystalline touch; bassist Larry Gray knows how to make his instrument sing; and drummer Jesse Nolan brings welcome vigor and variety to his drum work."

-Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune, August 18, 2006

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"Last Saturday, lyricist/singer Lorraine Feather made her Indy debut at the Jazz Kitchen. The daughter of the legendary Leonard Feather was a witty knockout. Equally impressive was her pianist/ composer Shelly Berg, with his highly energetic style that is as equally comfortable doing breakneck straight-ahead tempos in the trio’s opening set, as playing terrific stride piano style behind Feather’s ’30s hip style vocalese. From her opening outrageous lyrics based on a Fats Waller tune, she labeled “You’re Outta Here” to the romantic poignancy of her words on Duke Ellington’s “Creole Love Call,” which she renamed “Love Call.” Feather took us back in time to the future with her clever and sophisticated lyrics and style. Frank Smith’s bass and Jesse Nolan’s drums supplied strong sympathetic support."

-Chuck Workman, Nuvo, October 26, 2005

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"Jesse Nolan decided to make a large multi-setup arrangement of (Clapping Music), which he would perform on his senior recital at Indiana University. Jesse came up with many voicing and melodic possibilities as well as expanding upon the changing pulse idea. In his version he plays the original parts in every possible limb combination at some point during the 12-minute performance. While I concentrated on the conceptual possibilities and Gould on the physical possibilities, Jesse made his version into a solo “tour de force...”

-Glenn Kotche, Percussive Notes 26, October 2005

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"...an evening that overflowed with deeply musical work. That the set included the characteristically adroit playing of bassist Larry Gray and the consistently imaginative accompaniments of the young drummer Jesse Nolan - a real find - only heightened the appeal of the show."

-Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune, August 19, 2005

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"Cashdollar's group, The Madcap Four, played originals and pieces like John Coltrane's “Ole” with all-out raw energy, the saxophonist evolving licks into the extreme upper registers and trumpeter Ben Syversen using longer deliberative notes in related-but- different-each-time phrases. The backing from drummer Jesse Nolan and Jesse Wittman on bass not only drove the intensity further forward, but the visual cues the band exchanged made it was clear they were locked into the moment."

-Mark Sabbatini, AllAboutJazz.com, July 17, 2005

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"Last Saturday’s much anticipated Tenor Madness at the Jazz Kitchen was a big success. In front of a capacity crowd, tenor saxophonists Rob Dixon, Frank Glover, “Pookie” Johnson and Mark Radaway, backed up with a rhythm section of Steve Jones piano, Joel Kelsey bass and Jesse Nolan drums, kept things cooking. There were varied match-ups and pairings throughout the evening. All four tenors opened and soloed on Tenor Madness but things quickly heated up when Dixon and Glover got into some intense, four bar exchanges. All four tenor men had plenty of room to stretch and develop ideas. The rhythm section of Jones, Kelsey and Nolan were a mountain of support, flowing, pushing and swinging to draw the best from all of the players. The evening’s winner was the crowd and the Jazz Kitchen."

-Chuck Workman, Nuvo, January 19, 2005

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