During this time he performed with notable artists including the Buddy Rich Big Band, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Blood Sweat & Tears, Slide Hampton, Bob Mintzer, Maria Schneider, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams, Aretha Franklin, Mel Tormé, Peabo Bryson, Dave Liebman, Mulgrew Miller and Marc Copland.
He was also in demand as an accompanist for artists such as Slide Hampton (trombone), Billy Mitchel (tenor sax), Harold Jones (drums), Art Farmer (trumpet), and many more.
Hampton Roads | Lionel Hampton | Slide Hampton | Hampton University | Hampton, Virginia | Wade Hampton III | Hampton Court Palace | Hampton | Hampton Hawes | South Hampton Roads | Hampton, New Hampshire | Fred Hampton | New Hampton, New Hampshire | John Hampton | Howard Hampton | East Hampton | Battle of Hampton Roads | High Hampton Inn Historic District | Hampton Sides | Hampton Roads Beltway | Hampton Bishop | Christopher Hampton | Blue Slide Park | Anthony Slide | Slip 'n Slide | slide | Robert Hampton Gray | Orville H. Hampton | North Hampton | New Hampton School |
After that, she has worked with names such as Claudio Roditi, Cidinho Teixeira, Dom Salvador, Frank Martin, Ledisi, Mauricio Baia, Tiago Machado, Mike Moreno, Slide Hampton, John Lee, Sergio Brandao, Gilmar Gomes, Jorge Continentino, Davi Vieira, Sandro Albert, Nation Beat, Dario Boente, Ricardo Vogt, Zé Luis, Michael O'brien, Itaiguara Brandão, Mauricio Zottarelli, David Schommer, Marcos Vigio, Eliano Braz, Scott Kettner and many more quickly becoming a crowd favorite.
He often works with American musicians who are visiting the UK, and over the years has played with such luminaries as Art Farmer, Bobby Shew, Al Cohn, Tal Farlow, Slide Hampton, Warren Vache, Al Grey, Kenny Davern, Bill Berry, Al Casey, Howard Alden, Ruby Braff, Bill Coleman and Conte Candoli.
Geller performed regularly in Germany and abroad as a soloist at festivals and clubs in various formations including some big bands as well as with such diverse artists as Knut Kiesewetter, Lennie Niehaus, Jiggs Whigham, Rolf Kühn, Slide Hampton, Buddy DeFranco, Lew Soloff, Charlie Mariano and Jan Lundgren.
Other musicians he worked with included Montgomery, Slide Hampton, David Baker, Freddie Hubbard, pianist Carl Perkins, Larry Ridley, Leroy Vinnegar, and doo-wop sensations The Students.
Over the years the Litchfield Jazz Festival has presented legends like Dave Brubeck, Tito Puente, Ray Charles, Dr. John, the Heath Brothers, and Slide Hampton as well as introduced new talent and fostered the careers of Diana Krall, Brad Mehldau, Jane Monheit, Matt Wilson, Don Braden, Robert Glasper and many others.
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 (conductor), Clark Tracey, and Stan Tracey.
The son of biochemist and microbiologist husband and wife team Gladys W. Royal and George C. Royal, Royal, who is described by Slide Hampton as "one of the important guys on the horn", grew up in Washington, DC.