Nicolas Masson dived into improvised music at the deep end, at 20 encountering Cecil Taylor and Fred Hopkins in New York and subsequently studying with Frank Lowe and Makanda Ken McIntyre.

A leading figure on the Swiss new jazz scene, saxophonist and composer Nicolas Masson has built a singular body of work over more than two decades, centered on long-term collaborations and a deep exploration of sound, silence, and open forms. His music navigates between contemporary jazz and free improvisation with a distinctive voice marked by careful listening and refined timbral research.

At the heart of his work is his quartet, a twenty-year collaboration with pianist Colin Vallon, drummer Lionel Friedli, and bassist Patrice Moret. This ensemble has produced three albums, including two released on the prestigious Munich-based label ECM Records — Travelers (2018) and Renaissance (2025) — and represents an ongoing collective research into temporal elasticity and interactive musical language.

Beyond this central project, Masson has worked with a broad international cast of musicians including Ben Monder, Gerald Cleaver, Kenny Wheeler, Thomas Morgan, Kris Davis, Colin Vallon, Russ Johnson, Eivind Opsvik, Russ Lossing, Bojan Z, as well as South African musicians Nduduzo Makhathini, Ayanda Sikhade, and Afrika Mkhize.

Based in Geneva, Masson is deeply engaged in the local cultural scene through his teaching activities at AMR and the Conservatoire Populaire de Musique. He is also active as a photographer, producing portraits and personal works featured on several ECM Records album covers, bringing his visual sensitivity into dialogue with his musical practice.