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 :
Brandon Seabrook & Simon Nabatov : Squalid Simplicities (Voluptuaries - Leo Records - 2021)
Paul Motian - Ed Schuller - Arto Tuncboyaci - Simon Nabatov : Would-Be Blues (Circle The Line - GM Recordings - 1988)
Nabatov Reijsiger Schubert : Chapter And Verse (Square Down - Leo Records - 2011)
Nabatov, String Gang & Percussion : Bottom Of The Mirror (Inside Lookin' Out - Tutu Records - 1989)
Simon Nabatov Trio : Simple Simon (Tough Customer - Enja Records - 1993)
Simon Nabatov : U-trillo (Perpetuum Immobile - Leo Records - 2002)
Simon Nabatov - Barry Guy - Gerry Hemingway : Forty Days (Luminous - NoBusiness Records - 2018)
Simon Nabatov : Compassion (Locomotion - ASP - 1988)
Picture © Andrey Lysikov