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Nicolas Masson

In 1992, Nicolas Masson meets Cecil Taylor in New York and takes lessons from Frank Lowe and Makanda Ken McIntyre. Back home in Geneva, he enrolls in the Jazz program at the Conservatoire Populaire de Musique de Genève with Maurice Magnoni as a saxophone teacher.

In 2000, he graduates from the Conservatoire Populaire de Musique de Genève with a Jazz performance and teaching degree. As a student at the Conservatoire, he’s attending master classes from renowned musicians such as Lee Konitz, Dave Douglas and Misha Mengelberg.

In 1999, Nicolas Masson spends the summer in New York and studies with Chris Potter 1999. In 2000, Nicolas Masson moves to New York for one year. He studies on a regular basis with Rich Perry and plays with local musicians such as Ohad Talmor, Eivind Opsvik, Mark Ferber, Ted Poor...

Awake, released in 2002 on the Swiss label Altri Suoni, is Nicolas Masson’s first album recorded with his New York band featuring Russ Johnson (tp), Eivind Opsvik (b) and Mark Ferber (dms). The Quartet did its first European tour (Switzerland, Italy) in January 2003.

In 2003, Nicolas Masson received the « Bourse d’Aide à la Création pour Jeunes Artistes de la Ville de Genève » grant, which constituted the financial basis to a Switzerland tour and studio recording in 2004 with his Quartet (with Gerald Cleaver on drums). The second album, called Yellow (A Little Orange) was released in 2006 on the famous Fresh Sound/New Talent label. Second Italy tour in Spring 2004 with Ted Poor on drums.

In 2005 and 2006, the Quartet toured Italy again, taking part in an itinerant Swiss festival organized by Rome’s Swiss Cultural Centre, sharing the evening with Irène Schweizer, Lucas Niggli and Malcolm Braff. Concerts were held in some of Italy’s most prestigious venues and festivals such as the Casa dell’Jazz and Alexanderplatz Jazz Club in Rome, TAM, Ubi Jazz Festival and Crossroads Jazz Festival in Emilia Romagna.

In 2007, concert in New York with the Quartet. European duo tour with pianist from New York Kris Davis (Switzerland, Italy, France and Germany).

In 2009, Nicolas Masson releases Thirty Six Ghosts, his first album on Clean Feed Records.

Nicolas’ busy schedule allows him to play all over Europe with musicians such as: Kenny Wheeler, Josh Roseman, Otomo Yoshihide, Kris Davis, Thomas Morgan, Scott DuBois, Gerald Cleaver, Tom Arthurs, Samuel Blaser, Manuel Mengis, Susanne Abbuehl, Harald Haerter, etc.

Gear

Selmer Super Balanced Action tenor 38xxx Pillinger Mouthpiece Lupifaro reeds


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12
Album Review

Yako Trio: OdesSea

Read "OdesSea" reviewed by Jim Worsley


Having a wonderful new record from Greece come to the fore is a reminder of how random it all is. There are so many works of brilliance out there, all over the world, that no matter how hard one tries to uncover every stone, it is impossible to come close. It is necessary to be discerning. This album needs to be shared with as many serious jazz ears as possible. OdesSea is composed and performed by the ...

Album Review

Nicolas Masson: Travelers

Read "Travelers" reviewed by Neri Pollastri


Il sassofonista e clarinettista svizzero Nicolas Masson è qui alla testa di una formazione di connazionali che include il ben noto trio del pianista Colin Vallon, autore di diversi dischi per ECM e di supporto anche alla cantante di origini albanesi Elina Duni. Di fatto questo quartetto, noto proprio con il nome che intitola questo album, Travelers, è attivo da circa dodici anni ma qui si mette alla prova con sole composizioni di Masson. La cifra è palesemente—e ...

26
Album Review

Nicolas Masson: Travelers

Read "Travelers" reviewed by John Kelman


Following two recordings for ECM Records as a member of the cooperative Third Reel (including the trio's self-titled 2013 debut), reed multi-instrumentalist Nicolas Masson strikes out on his own with Travelers, his first album as a leader for the label. Third Reel's Swiss/Italian lineup of reeds, guitar (Roberto Pianca) and drums (Emanuele Maniscalco), along with its emphasis on collaboration and interaction over individual focus and overt virtuosity, has rendered the trio the torch bearer for the late Paul ...

267
Album Review

Nicolas Masson Parallels: Thirty Six Ghosts

Read "Thirty Six Ghosts" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Switzerland reared tenor sax ace and composer Nicolas Masson draws inspiration from Yoshitoshi Taiso's (1839-1892) woodblock paintings. Hence, emotion and impressionism is projected via the power of jazz music, as Masson and his quartet render a poly-angled view that incorporates the artist's lucid imagery and contrasting colors. With Thirty Six Ghosts, the saxophonist leads a concentrated group-focused program, steeped within structure and loosely devised implementations.

Masson and his accomplices dish out driving jazz-rock pulses with large doses of ...

147
Album Review

Nicolas Masson: Yellow (A Little Orange)

Read "Yellow (A Little Orange)" reviewed by Christopher Shoe


As is implied by the title, Yellow (A Little Orange) can be perceived as one thing at first glance--perhaps an attempt at the avant-garde by a group of talented young musicians but, when dissected further, holding much more complexity than simply one color tone. This recording is a second for the Nicolas Masson Quartet and shows a type of maturity in modern music that is sought after by many musicians and listeners alike. Swiss Masson, here on ...

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Photos

Concerts

Mar 23 Sat

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

OdesSea

Fair Weather Friends
2022

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Travelers

ECM Records
2018

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Genève

Unit Records
2011

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Thirty Six Ghosts

Clean Feed Records
2009

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Yellow (A Little...

Fresh Sound Records
2007

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