Nicolas Thys (New York/Brussels) Born in 1968 in Brussels Belgium. Began singing and playing the piano and flute a very young age. Started playing bass at 13, performed early on with high school friends in musicals organized by the drama department (several engagements yearly). After high school, moved to Amsterdam to attend the conservatory of music. Graduated 5 years (‘94) later for both instruments with CUM LAUDE, the highest distinction…. Meanwhile, Nicolas gathered different prizes and awards in Belgium(europ jazz contest 1993), Holland and Germany(jazztage Leverkusen 1994), and toured around the world. In ’96 spent months in NY on a Dutch Government grant.
Played all the major festivals(Montreal,northsea,montreux..) /recorded as a sideman with artists as: Lee Konitz, Mal Waldron/Jeanne Lee quartet, Jesse Van Ruller, Toshiko Akioshi’s big band, Ben Monder, Mark Turner, Peter Bernstein, Jojo Mayer’s nerve ,Bob Brookmeyer,Dave Liebman Topaz, Benny Bailey,Yaron herman, Brussels jazz orchestra, Nils Wogram/Simon Nabatov, Brazilian Girls, Zap Mama,Garrett List,Tomasz Stanko,Toots Thielemans/ Kenny Werner quartet, among others.Featured on many soundtracks.
Featured artist in Japan with the Walter Lang trio(best album in 2006 in Swing journal). Lived between 1999 and 2007 in New York where I played with all kinds of amazing musicians.
Currently working with Bill Carrothers Trio,Jef neve’s groovething,Robin Verheyen 4tet,AL FUNDUQ,Gorka Benitez 4tet, Yves Peeters band,jeroen van herzeele project,Chris Defoort quartet feat M. Turner/Jim Black,Tutu Puoane quartet ,bart Defoort/emanuele cisi 5tet resident artists at NUBLU in NYC.
Currently teaching in Belgium(masters in Antwerpen and Lemmens instituut in Leuven), and playing with own projects,”VIRGO”(feat. Chris Cheek)-CD out in 2009 on PIROUET label and the band called THYS-featuring Nic as a singersong writer.
Played a role in major motion picture“The Visitor”, and wrote music for it.
Soundtrack for “love the hard way” feat. Adrian Brody
-Diamant 13 feat. Gerard depardieu
Nicolas Thys is featured on over 30 cd’s….(Warner Bros, Fresh Sound New Talent…)
Opleidingsonderdelen: Jazz Basgitaar, Jazz Contrabas, Jazz Ensemble, Improvisatietraining