Simon Nabatov’s musical education began at the age of 3, his father, himself a musician, being the first teacher. The Central School of Music and Moscow Conservatory were the next steps. After the whole family emigrated and settled in New York in 1979, Nabatov continued his studies at the Juilliard School Of Music. By that time his interest and involvement in jazz and improvised music grew strong enough to make them his main activity.
Since then he performed and recorded with many fine musicians such as Paul Motian, Tony Scott, Sonny Fortune, Kenny Wheeler, Alan Skidmore, Herb Robertson, Louis Sclavis, Charles McPhearson, Billy Hart, David Murray, Paul Horn, Ricki Ford, Marty Ehrlich, Mark Dresser, Barry Guy, Gerry Hemingway, Jim Snidero, Herb Geller, Dave Pike, Attila Zoller, Matthias Schubert, Barry Altschul, Vladimir Tarasov, John Betsch, Ed Schuller, Arto Tuncboyaci, Adam Nussbaum, Paul Heller, Jay Clayton, Ron McClure, Mark Feldman, Drew Gress, Phil Minton, Michael Moore, Han Bennink, Misha Mengelberg, Wolter Wierbos, Paulo Alvares, Gareth Lubbe, Ben Davis and many others.
He enjoyed continuous work with Ray Anderson Quartet, Arthur Blythe Quartet, Perry Robinson Quartet, NDR Big Band (Hamburg,Germany), Steve Lacy - Simon Nabatov Duo, Nils Wogram Quartet, Nils Wogram - Simon Nabatov Duo, Matthias Schubert Quartet, Matthias Schubert - Simon Nabatov Duo and Klaus König Orchestra.
In 1989, he and his German partner settled in Cologne.
Playlist :
Simon Nabatov : Manifesto (Readings - Gileya Revisited - Leo Records - 2019)
Oğuz Büyükberber & Simon Nabatov : Cross Play Averted (Wobbly Strata - TryTone - 2016)
Simon Nabatov : My Sertão (Piano Works V - Around Brazil - Act - 2006)
Simon Nabatov : Crossing The River Zbrucz (Readings - Red Cavalry - Leo Records - 2019)
Simon Nabatov : Right Off (Time Labyrinth - Leo Records - 2020)
Gratkowski - Nabatov - Mahnig : It's All In The Hips (Dance Hall Stories - Leo Records - 2020)
Simon Nabatov Quintet - With Chris Speed, Herb Robertson, John Hébert, Tom Rainey : Slow Thinker (Plain - Clean Feed - 2020)
Simon Nabatov - Takashi Seo - Darren Moore : One Down (Live in Matsuyama - LaoBan Records - 2021)
Michael Moore & Simon Nabatov : Turning Point (Ancient Sorrow - Bandcamp - 2020)
Nabatov, Wogram, Rainey : Persistence Is A Virtue (Nawora - Leo Records - 2012)
Picture © Ursula Zeidler