Primary Instrument: Bass, acoustic
Bob Nieske has quietly become one of the finest jazz composers and bassists in New England. Through work with Jimmy Giuffre (including two Soul Note albums), the Either/Orchestra (which has recorded a number of Nieske compositions), George Russell, and virtually every jazz musician of consequence in Boston, Nieske has achieved a truly personal sound. His current group, the Bob Nieske 3, is a trio that is steeped in the tradition of jazz without being traditional. They swing hard but never play cliches; they play freely but never without intention and direction. In the trio, Bob is joined by elder statesman drummer Nat Mugavero, a legend for his profound, quirky musicality, and thirty-something trumpeter Phil Grenadier, a fiery and lyrical voice with the imagination to stand as the one-man front line of the Nieske 3.
Collectively the members have performed or recorded with Jimmy Giuffre, Stephane Grappelli, Sonny Stitt, Zoot Sims, Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Byrd, George Russell and the Living Time Orchestra, The Either/Orchestra, Attilla Zoller, Tony Williams, Ron Carter, and a host of others.
Of their approach, Nieske says: “The music comes from the individual. The way to write or play original music is to find a way of infusing the music with your essence... not to try to think up something that has never been done before or come up with far out crazy sounds. If you can get your essence into the music then you will have something original ...because there is only one of you. You can't get around it...play yourself. This is what we try to do.”
Source: Accurate
