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Albert Nicholas

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Albert Nicholas
Nicholas in Jimmy Ryan's club, New York City, c. 1947. Image: William P. Gottlieb
Nicholas in Jimmy Ryan's club, New York City, c. 1947. Image: William P. Gottlieb
Background information
Born(1900-05-27)May 27, 1900
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedSeptember 3, 1973(1973-09-03) (aged 73)
Basel, Switzerland
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentClarinet
Years active1910s–1973

Albert Nicholas (May 27, 1900 – September 3, 1973)[1] was an American jazz clarinet player, who was mostly based in Europe after 1953.

Career

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Nicholas's primary instrument was the clarinet, which he studied with Lorenzo Tio in his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.[1] Late in the 1910s, he played with Buddy Petit, King Oliver, and Manuel Perez.[1] He spent three years in the Merchant Marines and then joined Oliver in Chicago from 1925 to 1927.[1] After time in East Asia and Egypt, Nicholas returned to New York City in 1928 and played with Luis Russell until 1933,[1] playing there with Red Allen, Charlie Holmes, and J. C. Higginbotham. Later he played with Chick Webb, Louis Armstrong (with Russell) and Jelly Roll Morton.[1]

The Dixieland jazz revival of the late 1940s reinvigorated his career; he played with Art Hodes, Bunk Johnson, and Kid Ory,[1] and had a regular gig with Ralph Sutton in 1948.

In 1953, Nicholas moved to Paris, France;[2] except for recording sessions in the U.S. in 1959–60, he remained in Europe for most of the rest of his life.[1]

Nicholas died in Basel, Switzerland, in September 1973, at the age of 73.

Discography

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  • Albert Nicholas & Mezz Mezzrow (Jazztone, 1956)
  • The Scobey Story Vol. 1 (Good Time Jazz, 1959)
  • Albert Nicholas with Art Hodes' All-Star Stompers (Delmark, 1964)
  • Albert's Blues (77 Records, 1966)
  • Barney Bigard/Albert Nicholas (RCA, 1969)
  • A Tribute to Jelly Roll Morton (Storyville, 1972)
  • Albert Nicholas and The Traditional Jazz Studio (Supraphon, 1972)
  • Albert Nicholas with Alan Elsdon's Band Vol. 1 (Jazzology, 1995)
  • Albert Nicholas with Alan Elsdon's Band Vol. 2 (Jazzology, 1996)
  • Story 1926–1947 (EPM, 1998)
  • New Orleans Clarinet (Sanctuary, 2006)
  • Albert Nicholas & Herb Hall (GHB, 2015)
  • Albert Nicholas In Europe (Upbeat URCD284)
  • As It Is When It Was (2020)

References

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Footnotes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 304. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  2. ^ Yanow, Scott (December 22, 2018). "Albert Nicholas in Europe". The Syncopated Times. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
General references
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