Nic Meier

In just a few short years UK-based guitarist Meier has carved out a reputation as a uniquely talented guitarist. Mixing jazz, heavy metal, Turkish-influenced music, Flamenco, Tango and inspired by guitarists like John McLaughlin, Meier is a fast rising star on the British jazz scene. His versatility and musical fluency drew the attention of guitar legends Steve Vai, who signed him to his record label, and Jeff Beck who for two world tours during the last several years has made Nicolas a mainstay of The Jeff Beck Group. Born in 1973 in Switzerland, Nicolas has embraced a number of different cultures and studied their music forms, nuances and idiosyncrasies. In the tradition, if not the style, of Django Reinhardt he is a true gypsy spirit with a maestro's touch. Nicolas’s approach is rooted in his love of playing jazz on an acoustic guitar, creating a sound that lends itself especially well to his flamenco and middle-eastern influenced music. He also plays a fretless acoustic guitar, the Saz or baglama (a traditional Turkish stringed instrument), electric guitar, and a glissentar (an 11-stringed fretless Lute-like instrument). Nicolas is one of those unusual musicians who is equally at home playing both rock and jazz and has written books on both: "Heavy Metal, Part I: Rhythm Guitar," and; "Jazz, Part I: Chord Tones." He says: “I deeply love both styles. There is [a] magic in each…that the other…doesn’t have. I just love metal’s power and energy, and at the same time I love jazz’s deep emotion." A recipient of numerous awards, he pursued advanced studies at Switzerland's prestigious Conservatoire de Fribourg, and earned a scholarship to Boston's illustrious Berklee College of Music. After graduating from Berklee, Nicolas returned to Switzerland in 1998 and formed the Meier Group, a band that quickly became popular as a European festival regular where he performed alongside the likes of George Duke and Macy Gray. He settled on London as the perfect destination for combining the energy of the US with a happening European music scene and shortly after arriving he met drummer Asaf Sirkis, whom he credits with helping open his ears to Middle Eastern music, as well as helping him find his feet in London. In 2009, Nicolas founded his own record label, MGP Records. To date, he has produced ten albums as a solo artist, in various group formats (The Meier Group; Nicolas Meier Trio; Eclectica!) and in a duo format with UK jazz maestro guitarist, Pete Oxley. Steve Vai's Favored Nations Records label is set to release Nicolas' latest solo album, "Infinity," featuring fellow virtuosos Jimmy Haslip on bass and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums. Tonight Nic is bringing in his fantastic band featuring Dan Oates-violin, Kevin Glasgow-bass, Laurence Lowe-drums and Demi Garcia-percussion performing a mix of classic jazz standards and Nic’s own, highly impressive originals. Highly recommended.

“Meier… resourceful maestro” Guardian; “If you have not heard Nicolas Meier before, I do urge you to…a tour de force that you will not be disappointed with…highly recommended”. Unfretted; “Meier...reflects a highly-tuned, sensitive and joyously creative mind” Jazzwise; “Meier and his group offer a wide range of moods, colours and textures...the writing is imaginative and colourful…and the playing from an exceptionally talented band is magnificent throughout” The Jazz Mann