Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and raised in France, bassist Clovis Nicolas transitioned from studying philosophy to pursuing music, graduating from the Conservatory of Music of Marseilles in 1996. He quickly became a sought-after musician in Paris, performing with renowned artists like Brad Mehldau, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Michel Legrand. As part of the Belmondo Quintet, he contributed to the Grammy-winning album Hymne au Soleil. He also toured major international festivals with pianist Baptiste Trotignon, appearing at events like Montreux, Montreal, and Paris La Villette.

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In 2002, Nicolas moved to New York, supported by the Lavoisier Scholarship from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since then, he has performed at premier venues such as Blue Note, Smalls Jazz Club, and Jazz at Lincoln Center and collaborated with prominent jazz artists, including Peter Bernstein, Jeremy Pelt, and Branford Marsalis. He has also toured globally, offering concerts and masterclasses, and performed in a Ron Carter tribute at Alice Tully Hall alongside Herbie Hancock and Benny Golson.

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A graduate of The Juilliard School with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music, Nicolas studied under Ron Carter and Kendall Briggs. He has released three acclaimed albums as a leader on Sunnyside Records, including Nine Stories, selected as one of DownBeat's “Best Albums of the Year,” and Freedom Suite Ensuite, which earned 5-star reviews in Jazz Magazine. His most recent album, Autoportrait, showcases him in a solo bass setting and received critical acclaim, including a CHOC award in Jazz Magazine.

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Nicolas remains an active performer and recording artist, a voting member of the Recording Academy, and a composer affiliated with SACEM-ASCAP. His credits also include work on the soundtrack for the documentary Whose Streets?.