Nicolas Thys

Born in Belgium on the 27^th of August, 1968, Nicolas Thys went to the Hilversum Music Academy (Netherlands), where he graduated in 1993 with the compliments of the jury for bass and the next year with the same distinction for guitar. Since then he has studied with Marc Johnson, Marc Helias and Dave Holland.

Nicolas Thys has played with: Rick Hollander, Lee Konitz, Judy Niemack, Bill Carrothers, Bart Van Lier, Toon Roos, the Metropole Orchestra of the Dutch radio, The Timeless Orchestra, Garret List and the New Belgian Big Band, Simon Nabatov, Marc Ducret, Toots Thielmans, Mark Turner, Bob Malach, and Jasper Van’T Hoff.

He also toured in Germany with the American trumpet player Benny Bailey.

Nicolas Thys is extremely talented and plays with different bands in different styles. He plays electric bass, acoustic bass and double bass.

He has won several prizes in Belgium:

• In 1991 at the Jazz Rally: with the GVA Quintet
• In 1992 at Liege: The prize of the " Communauté française "
• In 1993 at Jazz Hoeilaart: with his Jazz Trio.
• In 1994 at Leverkusen: the First Prize with "Five Up High "

Some of Nicolas' accomplishments:

• He recorded a concert for the Dutch radio TROS with the Rob MADNA trio featuring the soloist Bob Brookmeyer.
• In September 1993 he played electric bass in a duo concert with guitar player Mike Stern and bass player John Patitucci.
• In June 1994, he participated in a live recording of Kris Defoort’s band "K.D.'s Decade".
• 124 radio stations broadcast a live recording of his trio all over Canada and the USA.
• He was asked to perform at the famous Sweet Basil jazz club in New York.
• He played with Nathalie Loriers, Michel Herr and The Brussels Jazz Orchestra.
• Nicolas performed at the North Sea Jazz festival, at the Montreux festival, at the New York City What is Jazz Festival, and at the Montreal Jazz Festival.
• In 1997 he was awarded a scholarship by the Dutch government so he could study in New York.
• Last summer, he recorded a project with the Walter Lang Trio in Germany for a Japanese label.
• He also performed in Brussels, at the AB concert with Mal Waldron and Jeanne Lee.
• In July, Nicolas Thys participated in the Vienna Festival, with Nils Wogram.
• He performed at the North Shore Festival with the Dutch band "Martinez Move". He equally performed at the Bordeaux festival with Philip Catherine, and participated in the pre-production of the Zap Mama album.
• In August, he recorded the bass line of the Zap Mama album, then performed at the Jazz Festival in the Let Park in Gent, and at yet another festival in Gent with the Happy Reunion band.
• In November 97 and April 98, he played in Japan and in Belgium with Toots Thielemans and Kenny Werner.
• From the 7^th till the 20^th of October 97, Nicolas performed at the famous Manhattan restaurant " Chez Jules ", with the World Music Mohamed’s Party Band (West African percussionists), with whom he did three concerts and a series of recordings.
• Nicolas Thys also has a band of his own, Alice’s 5 Moons. They have performed in different countries and released their first CD on Crossover Records.
• Nicolas has participated recently in Nice Guys and tours in the USA, Japan, Germany and Belgium with Bill McHenry on sax, Falk Willis on drums and Tak Nakamura on keyboards, trumpet and sampler.
• Alice’s 5 Moons was nominated for the " ZAMU AWARDS 98 " in the category " best jazz performance "

After several tours in the USA, Spain, France, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, England, Belgium, Chechia, Luxembourg, Italy, Japan and Russia, Nicolas is living in New York, N.Y. and is touring throughout Europe with the Bill Carrothers Trio.