Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Nico Assumpção was born Antônio Álvaro Assumpção Neto on August 13, 1954 in São Paulo, Brazil. His father was a professional bass player, but he debuted in music by playing the acoustic guitar at the age of 10. He took classes with Paulinho Nogueira but changed to bass six years later to fill in the void in a schoolmate’s band.
At 16, he came to the United States to study harmony and orchestration at the University of California. Returning to Brazil he went to study at CLAM, with Brazilian bassists Luis Chaves and Amilton Godoy. In 1976 he again left Brazil and landed in New York City to study and perform on a deeper level. He played with among others Wayne Shorter, Pat Metheny, Sadao Watanabe, Larry Coryell, Fred Hersh, Larry Willis, Joe Diorio, John Hicks, Steve Slagle, Victor Lewis, Dom Salvador and Charlie Rouse.
While in the States he mastered various bass playing techniques, and became one of the pioneers of fretless and 6-string bass in Brazil when he came back in 1981. That same year he released the first bassist solo album in the country, titled Nico Assumpção. The following year he moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where he lived for the rest of his life.
He was one of the most popular bassists in Brazil having played and/or recorded with Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, João Bosco, Maria Bethânia, Edu Lobo, César Camargo Mariano, Toninho Horta, Luiz Avellar, Wauke Wakabaiashi, Marco Pereira, Ricardo Silveira, Nelson Faria, Gal Costa, Hélio Delmiro, Maria Bethânia, Márcio Montarroyos, Raphael Rabello, Léo Gandelman and Victor Biglione, among others.
Bassist Nico Assumpção died from cancer on January 20, 2001 in Rio de Janeiro at age 47.
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OSCAR PETERSON CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
August 15, 2025 marks the occasion of the “Maharajah of the Keyboard” Oscar Peterson’s 100th birthday. For the occasion of his centennial and to commemorate his long history with Birdland, there will be celebrations for Peterson’s birthday week both at Birdland Jazz Club and the Birdland Theater.
Three legends of jazz will have their first ever musical meeting on the Birdland stage. Makoto Ozone, John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton will be coming together to celebrate their friend, colleague and mentor, Oscar Peterson, with a variety of music featuring selections from both his musical catalogue and their own as well as beloved standards that celebrate the swinging rhythms of the jazz tradition that OP represents.
Featuring:
Makoto Ozone ~ piano
John Clayton ~ bass
Jeff Hamilton ~ drums
Cover: $45.76 ~ $56.06
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The Jazz Voyager
The Jazz Voyager is back in New York City for another evening of music at Columbus Circle. It sits in the middle of Broadway, connected to Central Park West with 59th Street heading east along the southern border of Central Park. Overlooking the park is the jazz club named after one of the greatest trumpeters of the 20th century, Dizzy’s, a name that is household renowned for jazz heads.
Bassist and composer Buster Williams brings his rich tone, infectious swing, and joyful spirit to the stage. A beloved fixture of the New York jazz scene, he’s played alongside greats like Herbie Hancock, Art Blakey, and Betty Carter, and now leads his dynamic group Something More. Get ready for a night of deep grooves, soulful melodies, and the kind of musical chemistry that makes live jazz unforgettable.
Performers: Buster Williams, bass | Steve Wilson, saxophone | Brandon McCune, piano (7/31 and 8/1) | Steve Nelson, vibes (8/2) | Lenny White, drums
Cover: $25.00 ~ $65.00
Dizzy’s is located at 3 Columbus Circle, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10019 For more information contact the venue at https://jazz.org/dizzys.
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JAZZ HOUSE KIDS
For nearly 20 years, JAZZ HOUSE has shaped the next generation of jazz artists through world-class training and mentorship. Hosted by eight-time Grammy Award winner Christian McBride, this special night spotlights rising stars performing new arrangements and timeless works by Miles Davis, Bobby Timmons, John and Alice Coltrane, and more. It’s a powerful glimpse into the future of jazz, rooted in tradition, driven by passion, and filled with possibility.
Cover: Sold Out
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BEN WOLFE
Bassist and composer Ben Wolfe brings his hard swinging quartet to Dizzy’s Club for three nights of bold originals and heartfelt ballads. Known for his inventive voice and magnetic stage presence, Wolfe leads a top-tier ensemble that delivers timeless jazz with fresh energy and chemistry.
Performers:
Ben Wolfe, bass
Joel Ross, vibraphone
Sullivan Fortner, piano
Aaron Kimmel, drums
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