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Clovis Nicolas

After having established himself as a first-call bass player on the European scene (performances with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Brad Mehldau, Michel Legrand,..), jazz bassist Clovis Nicolas moved from France to New York in 2002. Since then, he has shared the stage in numerous venues (Jazz Standard, Smalls Jazz Club, Blue Note, 55 Bar, Kennedy Center, Smoke, Jazz Gallery, Birdland, Alice Tully Hall, Dizzy’s Club...) with some of today's most prominent jazz musicians, such as Jeremy Pelt, Grant Stewart, Harry Allen, Branford Marsalis, Curtis Fuller, Benny Powell, James Williams, Peter Bernstein, Joe Magnarelli, Marcus Gilmore, Sachal Vasandani, Eric Alexander, Carl Allen, Greg Hutchinson, and Dan Nimmer.

He is featured on more than 30 critically acclaimed recordings, including Bruce Harris' “Beginnings”; Behn Gillece's “Walk of Fire” (with saxophonist Walt Weiskopf); Belmondo’s “Hymne au Soleil” which won three Jazz Grammy Awards and sold more than 20,000 copies; pianist Laurent Courthaliac ‘s “Pannonica” and “All My Life” (Album of the Year 2016 by the French Jazz Academy), Samora Pinderhughes' ”Transformations Suite” (Jazz Album of the year on Apple Music).

In addition to those Clovis Nicolas recorded his own music under his name for Sunnyside Records, “Nine Stories” in 2014 selected in the Best Albums of the Year by Downbeat Magazine; “Freedom Suite Ensuite” in 2018 with drummer Kenny Washington; the latest "Autoportrait", a solo bass album that earned him a CHOC (highest distinction) in Jazz Magazine.

Clovis graduated from the prestigious Juilliard School with a Bachelor and a Master of Music and has been touring extensively for performances and master classes in South and North America through the school’s educational outreach program with Frank Kimbrough, Carl Allen, Rodney Jones, Donald Vega. Clovis was also featured in a Ron Carter concert tribute in Alice Tully Hall, performing with such guests as Herbie Hancock, Hubert Laws, Russell Malone, Mulgrew Miller, Lewis Nash, Benny Golson and Buster Williams.

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Album Review

Dmitry Baevsky: Kids' Time

Read "Kids' Time" reviewed by David A. Orthmann


Dmitry Baevsky is a jazzman in his middle years, a period when many players consolidate youthful influences and put their stamp on the rarefied practices of the mid- to-late 20th century. The alto saxophonist has recorded for several labels, and travels widely as a leader and sideman; to his credit, he continues to give the impression of a work in progress. While Baevsky seldom strays very far from a specific set of stylistic parameters, namely bebop, he does not coast, ...

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Album Review

Uptown Jazz Tentet: What's Next

Read "What's Next" reviewed by Jack Bowers


A tentet is a rather strange bird; too large to be labeled a small group, yet too small to be counted as a big band, it resides somewhere near the edges, mapping out its own musical profile. Some may rate that an asset, while others may deem it a mere hybrid, unworthy of their consideration. Wiser auditors, however, most often reserve judgment, preferring to take an impartial stance and allow the music to speak for itself. And that is where ...

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Album Review

Uptown Jazz Tentet: What's Next

Read "What's Next" reviewed by Edward Blanco


New York-based trombonist Willie Applewhite birthed the idea of forming a new big band comprised of friends, and in 2016 The Uptown Jazz Tentet was established, co-led by trumpeter Brandon Lee and trombonist James Burton III. After playing to live audiences for several years, What's Next is the group's debut recording, and what an outing it is. Grounded in the traditions of the Billy Strayhorn, Gill Evans, Duke Ellington big bands and others, as large ensembles go, these ten players ...

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Album Review

Clovis Nicolas: Nine Stories

Read "Nine Stories" reviewed by Gabriel Medina Arenas


Ron Carter's judgment regarding the talent of a fellow double bassist can't be wrong. The acclaimed musician, who has recorded more than 2,500 albums and was a fundamental member of the Miles Davis Quintet, highly praises the sound and compositions of Clovis Nicolas. Carter wrote the liner notes to Nicolas' Nine Stories, the first solo album from a young but experienced double bassist born in the Ivory Coast, who earned a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Music ...

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Clovis Nicolas

Read "Take Five With Clovis Nicolas" reviewed by Clovis Nicolas


Meet Clovis Nicolas:After having established himself as a first-call bassist on the European scene (performances with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Brad Mehldau, Michel Legrand and others), jazz bassist Clovis Nicolas moved to New York in 2002. Since then, he has shared the stage in numerous venues (Jazz Standard, Smalls Jazz Club, Blue Note, 55 Bar, Kennedy Center, Smoke, Jazz Gallery, Birdland, Alice Tully Hall, Dizzy's Club and others) with some of today's most prominent jazz musicians, such as Herbie ...

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"One of only a handful of bassists cutting any new or worthwhile ground in modern jazz" - Bop'N'Jazz ​ “A formidable walker with a big, resonant tone, Nicolas also distinguishes himself as a first-rate composer" - DownBeat ​ “One of our actual bass heroes” - Telerama ​ "A very, very good bass sound" - Ron Carter
Primary Instrument

Bass

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

I have a Bachelor and a Masters degree from Juilliard School, having studied under Ron Carter for bass and Kendall Briggs for composition. I have performed extensively over the past 20 years, recorded many albums, studied privately with Peter Washington, Bob Hurst, Barry Harris, Ben Street. I have taught many masterclasses in France, USA, Colombia with the Juilliard Fellowship Program as well as private students all over the world. Please contact me for more informations, rates, etc.

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Contrapuntist

Sunnyside Records
2023

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Listen!

Sunnyside Records
2023

buy

Kids' Time

Fresh Sound New Talent
2022

buy

Autoportrait

Sunnyside Records
2021

buy

Freedom Suite Ensuite

Sunnyside Records
2021

buy

What's Next

Irabbagast Records
2020

buy

What's Next

From: What's Next
By Clovis Nicolas

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