Nicola Corso

Nicola Corso is a NYC based bassist, composer and arranger. His personal approach and dynamic sound that blur the lines between jazz and classical music are informed by the intersection of different genres, showing his love for diversity. In addition to composing, Nicola is the band-leader of a 18-piece big band (Nicola Corso Jazz Orchestra) and a core member of few smaller bands.  

A former member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, Nicola carries decades of experience in performance and instruction. Born in Campobasso, Italy, he first followed in his father’s footsteps by playing the trumpet and trained in classical and orchestral studies until the day he discovered jazz. That moment was pivotal for Nicola, who felt that jazz carried depth and genre-bending aspects never heard before. At age 19, Nicola picked up the electric bass and studied with some of the most renowned teachers of his region. He became an integral member of Blue Image, a band that won competitions for emerging groups in Italy. It was the beginning of a prodigious period for him, marked by a two-year stay in London where he was a former artist in residence at the Effra Hall and Downstairs (now Oliver’s Jazz Bar). He moved to New York City in 2015, now armed with international exposure and an upright bass. The vibrancy of New York, with its blending and clashing of cultures, has played directly into his music since then.

As an international musician, Nicola won the Carl von Ossietzky Competition in Germany (2009), which celebrated his original composition written for large ensemble (classical orchestra and big band). He is a two-time prizewinner at the Barga Jazz Festival in Italy, (first in 2007 for a Kenny Wheeler dedication and then in 2012 for an original composition). He also earned two honorable mentions at the Ithaca College Composition Contest in 2011 and 2022. His work has been widely praised by fellow composers and received compliments by Kenny Wheeler after performing Nicola’s arrangement of his original music. Nicola holds a Bachelor’s of Music (Jazz Performance) and a Master’s in Music (Jazz Composition) from the Conservatory of Music in Benevento and Campobasso, Italy. He has performed with many extraordinary musicians including Ed Cherry, Joe Magnarelli, Flavio Boltro, Fukushi Tainaka, Quentin Collins, Daniele Scannapieco, Giovanni Amato.

Awards

• 2012 – Prizewinner, “BargaJazz 2012” International Arranging and Composition Competition for Jazz Orchestra, Barga (LU) – Italy.  XXV edition, sec. B dedicated to original composition. Orchestra conducted by Bruno Tommaso. Chairman of the jury: Mario Raja.
• 2009 – Prizewinner, “Carl von Ossietzky – Kompositionspreis” International Composition Competition, Oldenburg – Germany. IX edition, new originals for Classical Orchestra and Big Band.
• 2007 – Prizewinner, “BargaJazz07” International Arranging and Composition Competition for Jazz Orchestra, Barga (LU) – Italy. XX edition, sec. A dedicated to Kenny Wheeler, who performed the arrangement with the orchestra conducted by Bruno Tommaso. Chairman of the jury: Giancarlo Gazzani.
• 2021 – Third prize, “Premio Marzio Rosi” International Composition Prize, Campobasso – Italy. VII edition, new compositions for Percussion Ensemble.
• 2022 – Honorable Mention, “Ithaca College Jazz Ensemble” Composition Contest, Ithaca (NY) – USA. XI edition, new originals for Big Band. Guest artist: Camille Thurman. Conductor: Mike Titlebaum.
• 2011 – Honorable Mention, “Ithaca College Jazz Ensemble” Composition Contest, Ithaca (NY) – USA. II edition, new originals for Big Band. Conductor: Mike Titlebaum.
• 2022 – Finalist, “Scrivere in Jazz” International Composition Competition, Sassari – Italy. XVII edition, compositions inspired by ethnic music from Sardinia, performed by Orchestra Jazz della Sardegna.
• 2010 – Finalist, “ArtEZ 2010” International Composition Contest, Enschede – Netherlands. IV edition, new originals for the Millenium Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Joan Reinders.
• 2010 – Finalist, “Jazzverk 2010” International Composition Competition, Stockholm – Sweden. XI edition, new originals for the Bohuslän Big Band, conducted by Ann-Sofi Söderqvist.
• 2008 – Finalist, “Scrivere in Jazz” International Composition Competition, Sassari – Italy. X edition, compositions inspired by ethnic music from Sardinia, performed by Orchestra Jazz della Sardegna.
• 2007 – Finalist, “Piacenza Jazz Arrangers” National Arranging Competition for Big Band, Piacenza – Italy. II edition, dedicated to John Coltrane.

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