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, ECM recording artist Nicolas Masson has worked with a broad international cast of musicians including Ben Monder, Gerald Cleaver, Kenny Wheeler, Thomas Morgan, Kris Davis, Eivind Opsvik, Russ Lossing, Samuel Blaser, Colin Vallon, Tom Arthurs, Bojan Z, prominent south african musicians such as Nduduzo Makhathini, Ayanda Sikhade, Afrika Mkhize and many more.

Nicolas Masson is also active as a photographer, producing many portraits and personal works which are featured on several album covers from ECM Records.