Nicolas Caloia was a student of Lisle Ellis and Fred Hopkins, like them he is interested in many different types of music. A long time member of Montréal’s avant-garde community, Nicolas Caloia has performed with local artists such as Malcolm Goldstein, Rainer Wiens, Sam Shalabi and Michel F Côté, as well as internationally renowned artists like Joe McPhee, Joe Giardullo, Steve Lacy, Hassan Hakmoun and Tristan Honsinger, with whom he has a soon to be released recording.

On the label Ambiances Magnétiques Nicolas has released records with Jean Derome (Canot Camping), Lori Freedman, Danielle Palardy Roger, Joane Hétu (Ensemble SuperMusique, Canevas +) and Robert Marcel Lepage (a Machine à explorer le tempo). For the label NoType he has recorded Presence with drummer John Heward and guitarist Chris Burns.

For many years he led, and recorded with his own group, the Ratchet Orchestra, a group dedicated to performing original music, as well as the music of Sun Ra. Since 1999 Nicolas has enjoyed performing and recording with Bansuri player Catherine Potter’s Dunya Project. This group draws inspiration from North Indian classical music. Nicolas is presently working with the group Paradox led by Romanian violin virtuoso Carmen Piculeata. With multi-instrumentalist Michael BrownDrive on released by Borealis, which was nominated for a Juno Award in 2001.

In the autumn of 2000, he spent two months in Germany and in Italy touring with Uruguayan tangueros, the Nestor Vaz Trio. Nicolas plays tango music in Montréal with Victor Sanchez, José Maria Gianelli and the Ensemble Montréal Tango. Nicolas also performs with Argentinian singer Mercedes Gomez with whom he was fortunate to record Argentina si muestra in 2003.

Since 1990, he has played with several North African groups: Cheb Dino, The Nomads, Timgad and Saïd Mesnaoui. Currently he is playing and has recorded Salam Québec with Moroccan Hassan El Hadi.

• His web site
• His MySpace page