Simon Nabatov (born 11 January 1959) is a Russian-American jazz pianist.
Early life Nabatov was born in Moscow on 11 January 1959. His parents were Leon, a professional pianist and choir conductor who was a native of Belarus, and Regina. Nabatov began playing the piano at the age of three and his first composition was at six.
He attended a Duke Ellington concert in Moscow in 1971 and his determination to become a jazz musician was reinforced a year later at a Thad Jones–Mel Lewis Orchestra performance. By the age of 17 he was playing bebop with other musicians in Moscow. His formal education in music was at the Central School of Music and then the Moscow Conservatory.
Nabatov and his parents were permitted to leave the Soviet Union in 1979. This was ostensibly to join family members in Israel, but the Nabatovs instead flew to Italy and applied for visas to enter the United States. While waiting for a visa, Nabatov gained experience by becoming the house pianist at the Mississippi Jazz Club in Rome and was helped and encouraged by clarinettist Tony Scott. The family eventually reached the United States and settled in LeFrak City in Queens, New York City.
Later life and career Nabatov attended the Juilliard School from 1980 to 1984. In 1981, he accompanied avant-garde dancer Kazuo Ohno in performances in New York. In 1984, the magazine Keyboard named him Best Pianist. After graduating, "he played chamber music and accompanied choirs and former Soviet singing stars touring the growing circuit of Russian communities in the United States." He became an American citizen in 1986. That year, he recorded a trio album, Circle the Line, with bassist Ed Schuller and drummer Paul Motian. Often travelling to Europe, he was a member of bands led by Ray Anderson, Arthur Blythe, Steve Lacy and Perry Robinson, and played with the NDR Hamburg radio big band. Nabatov also toured Germany with Matthias Schubert, "with the drummer Ernst Bier, and with a tap-dance group". In 1989, he and his German partner settled in Cologne.
Nabatov made his name with a series of inventive trio albums with Mark Helias and Tom Rainey; he also often works with the trombonist Nils Wogram in duet or in larger ensembles. His most important work so far, however, has been a series of albums on Leo devoted to jazz tone-poem responses to Russian authors. Nature Morte is based on a poem by Joseph Brodsky; The Master and Margarita is a suite inspired by the novel of the same name by Mikhail Bulgakov, and the 2024 Raging Bulgakov focuses on that writer's earlier short works. A Few Incidences and No Kharms Done both consist of settings of the enigmatic texts of the poet Daniil Kharms. Crucial to the vocal discs have been the contributions of British singer Phil Minton.
Nabatov has taught at several institutions, including the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen (1989–91), the International Jazz and Rock Academy in Remscheid (1991–93), and the Musikhochschule Luzern.
Discography As leader or co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes1989?Solo–Duo–Trio–Quartet2nd FloorWith Michael Moore, Frank Gratkowski, Nils Wogram (trombone), Phil Minton (vocals)1986Circle the LineGMWith Ed Schuller (bass), Paul Motian (drums), Arto Tuncboyaci (percussion)1989?Inside, Looking OutTutuQuartet with Ed Schuller (bass), John Betsch (drums), Arto Tuncboyaci (percussion)1988LocomotionASPSolo piano1989?Six by TwoTerraceDuo with Ronan Guilfoyle (bass guitar)1990For All the MarblesASPTrio, with Mark Helias (bass), Barry Altschul (drums)1990Dancing on the EdgeKlavinsSolo piano1993Tough CustomerEnjaTrio, with Mark Helias (bass), Tom Rainey (drums)1994Shall We Dance?2nd FloorSolo piano1996Swing KingsACTTrio with Wolfgang Schlüter (vibraphone), Charly Antolini (drums); in concert1999Sneak PreviewhatOLOGYTrio, with Mark Helias (bass), Tom Rainey (drums)1999The Master and MargaritaLeoQuintet, with Herb Robertson (trumpet), Mark Feldman (violin), Mark Helias (bass), Tom Rainey (drums)1999Nature MorteLeoQuartet, with Nils Wogram (trombone), Frank Gratkowski (clarinet, alto sax, bass clarinet, flute), Phil Minton (vocals) 2000?As We Don't Know ItKennexDuo, with Nils Wogram (trombone)2000Starting a StoryACTDuo, with Nils Wogram (trombone)2000Perpetuum ImmobileLeoSolo piano2000Three Stories, One EndACTTrio, with Drew Gress (bass), Tom Rainey (drums)2001Chat RoomLeoDuo, with Han Bennink (drums)2003Autumn MusicLeoTrio, with Ernst Reijseger (cello), Michael Vatcher (drums); in concert2004A Few IncidencesLeoOctet, with Nils Wogram (trombone), Frank Gratkowski (clarinet, alto sax, bass clarinet, flute), Ernst Reijseger (cello), Matt Penman (bass), Michael Sarin (drums), Cor Fuhler (electronics, keyolin), Phil Minton (vocals)2005Around BrazilACTSolo piano2005Steady NowLeoDuo, with Tom Rainey (drums)2005?The MoveBTLCHRDuo, with Nils Wogram (trombone)2006?A FelicidadePlushmusic.tvSolo piano2006Jazz LimboLeoDuo, with Nils Wogram (trombone)2006Meeting PointAudioguyDuo, with Park Je-Chun (drums); in concert2007?Leo Records 25th AnniversaryLeoAlbum shared with other musicians2007Spinning Songs of Herbie NicholsLeoSolo piano; in concert; released 20122009?Nicht ohne RobertJazzHousMusikQuartet, with Rudi Mahall, Robert Landfermann (bass), Christian Lillinger2010?RoundupLeoQuintet, with Nils Wogram (trombone), Matthias Schubert (sax), Ernst Reijseger (cello), Tom Rainey (drums)2010?Concert "Live" à BordeauxOuhmanDuo, with Touria Hadraoui (vocals); in concert2010?DeploymentLeoTrio, with Frank Gratkowski (alto sax, clarinet), Marcus Schmickler (computer)2011?Moods and ModesNWOGDuo, with Nils Wogram (trombone)2011?Square DownLeoTrio, with Ernst Reijseger (cello), Matthias Schubert (tenor sax)2012?NaworaLeoTrio, with Nils Wogram (trombone), Tom Rainey (drums)201221-9-12LeoTrio, with Oğuz Büyükberber (clarinet), Gerry Hemingway (drums); in concert2013?DescriptionsLeoDuo, with Matthias Schubert (sax); in concert1995–2013Monk 'n' MoreLeoSolo piano, electronics; released 20162014?EncountersLeoTrio, with Luc Houtkamp (sax), Martin Blume (drums)2010–14LubatovLeoDuo, with Gareth Lubbe (vocals)2014ProjectionsClean FeedDuo, with Mark Dresser (bass); in concert2015?Leo Records, 35th Anniversary, MoscowLeoQuartet, with Frank Gratkowski and Alexey Kruglov (sax), Oleg Yudanov (drums)2015?Equal PoiseLeoTrio, with Mark Dresser (bass), Dominik Mahnig (drums); in concert2016?Picking OrderLeoTrio, with Stefan Schoenegg, Dominik Mahnig (drums)2016?Wobbly StrataTrytoneDuo, with Oğuz Büyükberber (clarinet)2017?Mirthful MythsLeoDuo, with Frank Gratkowski2017?Free ReservoirLeoTrio, with Max Johnson (bass), Michael Sarin (drums)2017Tunes I Still PlaySolo piano; in concert2017Not Seeing Is a FlowerLeoQuartet, with Akira Sakata (alto sax, clarinet, vocals, percussion), Takashi Seo (bass), Darren Moore (drums, percussion); in concert2018LuminousNoBusinessTrio, with Barry Guy, Gerry Hemingway2020Dance Hall StoriesLeoTrio, with Frank Gratkowski, Dominik Mahnig2020PLAINClean FeedWith Chris Speed, Herb Robertson, John Hébert, Tom Rainey2021VoluptuariesLeoDuo, with Brandon Seabrook2021Live in MatsuyamaLao BanTrio, with Darren Moore, Takashi Seo2021Brooklyn MischiefsLeoDuo, with Michae͏̈l Attias2021LOVESLeoEleven-piece ensemble2022No Kharms DoneLeoWith Phil Minton, Matthias Schubert, Wolter Wierbos, Jim Black2023ExtensionsUnbroken SoundsWith Sebastian Gille, Shannon Barnett, Reza Askari, David Helm, Mária Portugal2023VerbsClean FeedWith Leonhard Huhn, Philip Zoubek, Stefan Schönegg, Dominik Mahnig2024Raging BulgakovFS
As sideman With Perry Robinson Nightmare Island Live at the Leverkusener Jazztage (West Wind, 1989) Call to the Stars (West Wind, 1990) Angelology (Phonector, 2006)
With Nils Wogram Round Trip (Enja, 1996) Speed Life (Enja, 1998) Odd and Awkward (Enja, 2001) Construction Field (Altrisuoni, 2003) The Move (Between the Lines, 2005) Portrait of a Band (Enja, 2007) Moods & Modes (Nwog, 2010)
With others Franco Ambrosetti, Music for Symphony and Jazz Band (Enja, 1991) Ray Anderson, Every One of Us (Gramavision, 1992) Michael Gibbs & NDR Bigband, Back in the Days (Cuneiform, 2012) Alfred 23 Harth, POPendingEYE (Free Flow Music, 1993) Rolf Liebermann & NDR Big Band, Concerto for Jazz Band and Symphony Orchestra (Naxos, 2002) Rudi Mahall, Nicht Ohne Robert Vol. 1 (Jazz Haus Musik, 2009) Paul Motian, Circle the Line (GM, 1988) Marcin Oles, Walk Songs (Fenommedia, 2006) Daniel Schnyder, Winds (Koch, 1991) Sources
References