French-born, New York-based bassist and composer Clovis Nicolas has established himself as one of the most distinctive voices on the contemporary jazz scene. Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and raised in France, Nicolas moved to New York in 2002 and went on to graduate from The Juilliard School, where he studied bass with Ron Carter. Over the years, he has performed and recorded with an extraordinary range of artists, including Brad Mehldau, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Sullivan Fortner, Peter Bernstein, Jeremy Pelt, Herbie Hancock, and Harry Allen, among many others.

As a leader and composer, Nicolas has released a series of acclaimed albums on Sunnyside Records. His latest, Blues in Blueprint (2026), brings together a piano trio for a twelve-part exploration of the blues and its many possibilities. The result is a deeply swinging, sophisticated recording that reflects Nicolas’s commitment to both the jazz tradition and his own evolving musical voice.