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Simon Nabatov Solo

Simon Nabatov at work...

„Herbie Nichols and a little bit more"

a new solo program by Simon Nabatov

new release!

" Simon Nabatov plays Herbie Nichols"

on the British internet label PLUSHMUSIC.TV - get the HD video and hi-fi audio HERE

Herbie Nichols (1919-1963) was a remarkable jazz pianist and composer, who, tragically, never attained the recognition he undoubtedly deserved while alive. His visionary innovations, so amply evident in his compositions, are as fresh and strong today as back in the 50's.

A number of musicians have been fascinated by his unique musical world and have dedicated part of their activities to it: Ruswell Rudd, Misha Mengelberg, Steve Lacy, most notably; later also Geri Alen and Frank Kimbrough, among others.

Simon Nabatov "discovered" for himself the music of Nichols soon after he came to live in New York in 1979. The unusual combination of a wicked humor, twisted formal procedures, juxtaposition of the refined European harmonies (Satie or Bartok) and the rhythmic sensibilities harking back to the West Indies and Africa - all of it was most appealing to Nabatov - and, indeed, still is. Even though he soon learned most of the (back then) known tunes, playing them in public, and especially in a concentrated form of a solo concert, is a new development in his activities.

The tunes included in his new solo program were originally recorded by H.Nichols trio during the legendary Blue Note sessions of 1955-56 and represent the artistic quintessence of Nichols's musical genius.
listen to some excerpts here

Simon Nabatov has been giving solo concerts since 1983. He has performed his solo programs in U.S.A., Canada, Ireland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Belgium and Holland. It's the environment of a solo performance that allows him to combine most fluidly his classical background and new music influences with the jazz and improvised music sensibilities.

Nabatov has released 5 solo cd's. The first one, " Locomotion" has been enthusiastically received by critics and listeners:

"Cadence", October 1992
"While previous Nabatov recordings have impressed me, nothing has been as satisfying as this disc. With ideas galore and enough tools to get the job done, Simon Nabatov is a pianist of prodigious powers. "Loco Motion" is a fine effort by this original and inventive keyboardist. Nabatov blends stride, bop and free styles as if the improvising piano tradition were merely one long stream of symbiotic chain-links, which of course it is. Fortunately, the recording and the instrument were equal to the musicianship on this session. Is it too much to ask that the compositions be winners as well? No, it's not and they are.The result is an outstanding release.
Carl Baugher

"Dancing On The Edge" has been recorded on the world largest upright piano, designed by the German piano maker David Klavins.

"Shall We Dance?" presents a fresh take on the challenge of improvising on the themes of classical music; pieces of Bach, Chopin, Brahms and Prokofiev serve as a departure point for spontaneous, yet compositionally thought - out musical explorations.

The next solo CD, "Perpetuum Immobile", released on Leo Records , is a performance of free improvised pieces, caught live at LOFT, Cologne.

And the most recent one, "Around Brazil" on ACT Music, is a set of interpretations of the great Brazilian classics - from Ernesto Nazareth and Ary Barroso to Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

"Locomotion" "Dancing on the edge" "Shall we Dance?" "Perpetuum Immobile" " Around Brazil "

listen to examples (mp3)

"Which Way Up?"

"In Motion"

Several new solo projects are recorded and will be released in the near future: music of Th. Monk and H. Nichols; original compositions and more...

Stay tuned!

booking contact : Simon

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new release!

" Simon Nabatov plays Herbie Nichols"

on the British internet label PLUSHMUSIC.TV - get the HD video and hi-fi audio HERE

Herbie Nichols (1919-1963) was a remarkable jazz pianist and composer, who, tragically, never attained the recognition he undoubtedly deserved while alive. His visionary innovations, so amply evident in his compositions, are as fresh and strong today as back in the 50's.

A number of musicians have been fascinated by his unique musical world and have dedicated part of their activities to it: Ruswell Rudd, Misha Mengelberg, Steve Lacy, most notably; later also Geri Alen and Frank Kimbrough, among others.

The tunes included in his new solo program were originally recorded by H.Nichols trio during the legendary Blue Note sessions of 1955-56 and represent the artistic quintessence of Nichols's musical genius.