Nicolas Caloia biography

If no two snowflakes look the same then no two musicians should sound the same either. I am drawn to artists who are like orange snowflakes or like snowflakes that don’t melt, or like snowflakes carved out of soap.

I am composing for and leading the quartet Tilting I have Jean Derome on sax, Alexandre Grogg at the piano and Robert Kraft on the drums. 

I am in a band with Lori Freedman and Danielle Roger called FreC, we should probably record soon.

I play in another trio called BCH with Chris Burns and John Heward. We have a rather peculiar record called Presence out on the label no type. 

I work with Romanian violin virtuoso Carmen Piculeata in his group Paradox.

Periodically I am called to play with artists of international renown such as Joe McPhee, Steve Lacy, Hassan Hakmoun, Malcolm Goldstein, Tristan Honsinger and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia.  

Recently I went to Manhattan to play at Stone (John Zorn’s room) when Ambience Magnetique was invited. On this label I have records with Jean Derome, Lori Freedman, Joanne Hétu, and Robert M. Lepage .

 I am always trying to find some new sound that vibrates in an unusual way. This has led me to working with musicians who play non-western music. 

Since 1990 I have played and recorded with several North African groups: Cheb Dino, Hassan El Hadi, the Nomads, Timgad and currently with Saïd Mesnaoui. 

Since 1999 I have performed and recorded with Bansuri player Catherine Potter's Dunya Project.

I am also playing with another bamboo flautist, dizi player Shuni Tsou, and we sound pretty good.