About

The story

Born in Campobasso, Italy, Nicola Corso began as a classical trumpet player before discovering jazz at a pivotal moment in his teens. That discovery changed everything: he heard depth, freedom, and a conversation between genres he’d never experienced before. At 19, he picked up the bass and never looked back.

After winning competitions with the band Blue Image in Italy, Nicola spent two years in London (2000-2002) as artist-in-residence at the Effra Hall and Downstairs. Playing electric bass as a sideman, he immersed himself in an international melting pot of musicians (Brazilian, South African, North American, British, Jamaican) discovering new styles and approaches that would shape his musical identity. When he moved to New York City in 2015, now focused on upright bass, the city’s creative collision of cultures felt like a natural continuation of that London experience.

In New York, Nicola deepened both sides of his artistry. As a bassist, he studied with the legendary Ron Carter, developing the warm tone, deep groove, and musical generosity that define his playing today. As a composer and arranger, he joined the prestigious BMI Jazz Composers Workshop (2015-2018) under the guidance of Andy Farber and Ted Nash, refining his voice for large ensembles.

His writing has earned international recognition: winner of the Carl von Ossietzky Competition in Germany (2009) for a work blending classical orchestra and big band, two-time prizewinner at Italy’s Barga Jazz Festival (2007, 2012), and honorable mentions at the Ithaca College Composition Contest (2011, 2022). The late Kenny Wheeler personally complimented Nicola’s arrangements of his music after a performance: a moment Nicola treasures.

In 2017, Nicola formed his 18-piece jazz orchestra, debuting at the Italian Cultural Institute of New York and later performing at Jazz Gallery. Big band writing remains central to his creative vision, an “other side” that complements his work as a bassist and allows him to explore the intersection of jazz, classical music, and global traditions on a larger canvas.

Whether leading his own projects, writing for large ensembles, or bringing his deep time and wide repertoire to the bandstand as a sideman, Nicola moves fluidly between roles. He has performed at venues including Mezzrow, Jazz Gallery, and Blues Alley, and festivals such as Umbria Jazz, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, jazzahead!, and the Eddie Lang Festival.

Nicola also brings his expertise to private teaching, helping bassists and composers develop their craft with the same attention and care that shaped his own journey.