Big Nick Nicholas
George Walker "Big Nick" Nicholas (born August 2, 1922 in Lansing , † October 29, 1997 in New York ) was an American jazz saxophonist ( tenor and alto saxophone ) and singer .
Life
Big Nick Nicholas worked with Sabby Lewis , JC Heard, and Lucky Millinder in the 1940s ; In 1947 he was a member of Dizzy Gillespie's Big Band . Nicholas contributed a 16-measure solo on the first recording of Gillespie's Afro-Cuban jazz track "Manteca" (1947). During this time he also began working with Hot Lips Page , which lasted until 1954. In 1955 he played in Buck Clayton's band . He also worked with Hank and Thad Jones , Earl Hines and Tiny Bradshaw .
In 1951 he played in the septet of trombonist Bennie Green and appeared together with Miles Davis , Eddie Lockjaw Davis , Billy Taylor , Charlie Mingus and Art Blakey in Birdland, New York .
In 1983 Big Nick Nicholas finally released his first album under his own name on the India Navigation label , Big Nick Nicholas / Big and Warm .
"Big Nick" Nicholas was stylistically greatly from Coleman Hawkins influences, Nicholas himself had influence on the young John Coltrane , entitled "Big Nick" composed in his honor, which he for the impulses -albums Duke Ellington & John Coltrane and Coltrane grossed .
literature
- Richard Cook , Brian Morton : The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP and Cassette . 2nd Edition. Penguin, London 1994, ISBN 0-14-017949-6 .
- Richard Cook, Brian Morton: The Penguin Guide of Jazz on CD. 6th edition. Penguin, London 2002, ISBN 0-14-051521-6 .
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Nicholas, Big Nick |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Nicholas, George Walker (real name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz musician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 2, 1922 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Lansing , Michigan |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 29, 1997 |
| Place of death | new York |