Nicola Conte

Nicola Conte is an Italian producer, composer, guitarist, arranger, and bandleader. Jet Sounds, his 2000 debut, offered his own take on acid jazz by incorporating sampled sounds from bossa nova and samba, vintage Italian film soundtracks, West Coast jazz, easy listening themes, and Bollywood music. Over and around them, he folded in additional instruments, rhythm tracks, and vocals. 2004's Other Directions showcased his own jazz compositions performed by a 12-piece band, while 2007's Rituals employed a star-studded band and five lead vocalists who included Jose James and Chiara Civello. 2011's Love & Revolution added Euro-pop, jazz balladry, and modal jazz to his sound, and 2018's Let Your Light Shine featured an international cast and included vocalists Bridgette Amofah and Zara McFarlane. 2021's People Need People was co-led with trombonist Gianluca Petrella was an electro-acoustic outing that drew on hip-hop and EDM beats amid modal and spiritual soul and jazz.