Clovis Nicolas – The Contrapuntist (2023) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Clovis Nicolas – The Contrapuntist (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 48:54 minutes | 977 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sunnyside

There have been many instances where a musician specializing in a particular genre has taken a detour to investigate another. Bassist/composer Clovis Nicolas has focused on jazz music since he picked up his instrument, but it was his chance meeting of a classical music mentor at Juilliard that piqued his curiosity in classical composition. Nicolas’s new recording, The Contrapuntist, presents his first recorded foray into classical music, which features his new string quartet, along with a fascinating reflection of the piece for jazz quartet.The Ivory Coast-born and France raised Nicolas has focused on jazz bass playing and composing since his introduction to the music. He moved to New York City in 2002, investing himself fully in the vibrant jazz scene. In 2009, Clovis attended the Juilliard School to study with master bassist Ron Carter. At Juilliard, Clovis met composer Kendall Briggs, whose method of teaching and speaking about music had a dramatic effect on him.

Though it was a completely foreign concept, Nicolas became more and more taken with the classical pieces he was discovering. He began to take his study seriously, diving into orchestration, counterpoint, and voice leading. Nicolas studied scores from legends like Beethoven and Bartók. He then began his nascent attempts at writing classical scores, from choral works to symphonic pieces to string quartets.

The string quartet piece presented on The Contrapuntist is entitled “Le Miroir.” The writing process began with a plan, initially naming the tonal centers where the movements would begin and end, then establishing all that would happen in between. Nicolas enjoyed the parallels of the plan to that of a jazz tune, with a head on both ends and solos comprising the journey in the middle. The only difference was that Nicolas would have to provide everything written for the musicians.

Tracklist:

1-01. Clovis Nicolas – Parallels to Andante Moderato (07:44)
1-02. Clovis Nicolas – Etude On Scherzo I (04:11)
1-03. Clovis Nicolas – Shadow of Adagio (05:04)
1-04. Clovis Nicolas – Sketch of Scherzo II (02:34)
1-05. Clovis Nicolas – Tableau of Andante Sostenuto (07:25)
1-06. Clovis Nicolas – Le Miroir: Andante Moderato (04:57)
1-07. Clovis Nicolas – Le Miroir: Scherzo I (03:42)
1-08. Clovis Nicolas – Le Miroir: Adagio (04:32)
1-09. Clovis Nicolas – Le Miroir: Scherzo II (03:11)
1-10. Clovis Nicolas – Le Miroir: Andante Sostenuto (05:29)

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