He has appeared at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, North Sea Festival as well as the various New York City Jazz Festivals. Alva has performed with Lightnin' Hopkins, Kirk Whalum, Hubert Laws, David "Fathead" Newman, Arnett Cobb, Phyllis Hyman, Billy Harper, Regina Belle, Montego Joe, Hamiett Bluitt, Carlos Garnett, Eddie Harris, Steve Turre, Kuumba Frank Lacy, and the Boys' Choir of Harlem.

Alva has performed internationally throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe and he can be found on the recordings of Fred Ho, Lonnie Plaxico, Robin Eubanks, Juanita Fleming and Charley Gerard.

Alva Nelson has received awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the International Association of Jazz Educators, the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition and several Meet the Composer commissions. The most recent award supported a performance of "West African Sweet" for the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival. "West Afrykhan Sweet" as presented by the AFRYKHAN KNANECKSHUN is a multi-disciplinary performance piece, which features original music based on West African traditional dance rhythms supported by original music composed for jazz band and Djembe orchestra. This all evolved out of Mr. Nelson's fascination with dance and his commitment to creating a holistic performance experience where the elements of theatre, dance and music are equally integrated.

Alva is a native of Houston, Texas and attended Sam Houston State and Texas Southern Universities. He has participated in the BMI (Broadcast Music Int’l, Inc.) Composers Workshop, has studied acting and frequently appears in theatrical productions.