Nicola Conte: Acid Jazz torchbearer
Let's take a dive into the work and career of Italian acid jazz musician and beat-maker Nicola Conte
Last updated 11th Aug 2020
Discover more about the talented producer, beat-maker and guitarist Nicola Conte.
Who is Nicola Conte?
Nicola Conte is a producer, DJ and guitarist who merges many different styles into his music, but primarily acid jazz and Bossa nova.
Where is Nicola Conte from?
Born in 1964, Nicola Conte is originally from Bari, Puglia, Italy, where he grew up and immersed himself within the acid jazz scene which emerged there.
In an interview with UK Vibe, Nicola has reflected on the scene saying “We were a group of friends who got interested in creating a particular new dimension in the contemporary music scene. The club culture in London was something I looked at with admiration.”
What is Nicola Conte best known for?
Despite being classically-trained, Nicola Conte is best known for his distinctly Italian-influenced acid jazz style. It was in his native Bari where the musician formed the acid jazz group The Fez Collective, and would later play a part in the Schema record label, known for their promotion of the Italian acid jazz movement.
Nicola burst onto the underground international music scene with his hit ‘Bossa per Due’, his very first single off his debut record Jet Sounds, released in 2000.
After the buzz around this and Jazz Sounds Revisited (2002), he would make his Blues Note Records debut with his record Other Directions.
Nicola still continues to perform and produce beats, collaborating with musicians from around the globe.