Lapis Trio is an acoustic group featuring the compositions of Chicago-based jazz guitarist Casey Nielsen. The music draws on his study of the classical guitar and modern jazz. Lapis Trio’s unique instrumentation of classical guitar (Casey Nielsen) upright bass (Dan Thatcher) and percussion (Tim Mulvenna) provide a rich, dynamic acoustic setting. Their album, The Travelers, was released in 2019 on Shifting Paradigm Records. Through The Travelers, Casey imagines what he might write if his occupation was to perform a composition every evening for the rest of his community upon their return from work. Every piece would need to immediately engage the audience, by being unique and entertaining. The music, like the returning community members, would need to travel in some sense and then come home. And so he traveled, wrote, performed, and returned home. The trio has performed at many local venues such as the Hungry Brain, Studio Five, Chicago Botanic Garden, Highland Park Library, and the Thirsty Ears Festival. In 2019, they toured the south, performing at the University of Southern Mississippi and Louisiana State University.