Albert Nicholas

• Name — Albert Nicholas • Born — 27 May 1900 • Birthplace — New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. • Died — 3 September 1973 • Place of death — Basel, Switzerland • Genre — Jazz • Occupation — Musician • Instrument — Clarinet • Years Active — 1910s–1973

Nicholas's primary instrument was the clarinet, which he studied with Lorenzo Tio in his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Late in the 1910s, he played with Buddy Petit, King Oliver, and Manuel Perez. He spent three years in the Merchant Marines and then joined Oliver in Chicago from 1925 to 1927. After time in East Asia and Egypt, Nicholas returned to New York City in 1928 and played with Luis Russell until 1933, playing there with Red Allen, Charlie Holmes, and J. C. Higginbotham. Later he played with Chick Webb, Louis Armstrong (with Russell) and Jelly Roll Morton. The Dixieland jazz revival of the late 1940s reinvigorated his career; he played with Art Hodes, Bunk Johnson, and Kid Ory, and had a regular gig with Ralph Sutton in 1948. In 1953, Nicholas moved to Paris, France; except for recording sessions in the U.S. in 1959–60, he remained in Europe for most of the rest of his life. Nicholas died in Basel, Switzerland, in September 1973, at the age of 73.