Shared the stage with
As a bass player:
Mike Stern, Jorge Rossy, Oz Noy, Joe Lovano (with MSM Jazz Orchestra), Till Brönner, Nils Landgren, Sean Wayland, Valerie Simpson, Jiggs Whigham, Judy Niemack, Peter Weniger, Marc Cary, Jay Clayton, Ben Eunson, Jean-Paul Bourelli, David Haynes, Wanja Slavin, Universal Music Label and the Berlin Jazz Orchestra among others
As a vocalist:
German National Jazz Orchestra ("BuJazzO"), Lajjazzo (Big Band conducted by Jiggs Whigham), Young Voices Brandenburg
Bandleader Projects:
Niklas Lukassen's Mandala, My Imaginary Friend, Aurora Ensemble, Niklas Lukassen Quintet
Academic Career
Music Schools attended:
Bach Spezialschule fur Musik - high school for outstanding young musicians
Jazz Institute Berlin - Bachelor of Music
Manhattan School of Music - Master Of Music (full scholarship recipient)
Formative Teachers and Mentors:
Ron Carter, Christian Von Kaphengst, Gregory Cohen, David Grossman, Max Hughes, Dave Liebman, Joe Locke, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Jim McNeely, John Hollenbeck
Selection of summer programs/ residencies attended:
European Jazz Academy (2013)
Berklee College of Music, Five-Week Summer Performance program (full scholarship recipient) (2013+2014)
Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residency (2018)
Competitions/ Awards
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"Jugend Jazzt" National Youth Jazz Award Recipient (Germany, 2013)
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Bass Solo Competition "Bass Solo Fun" (USA, 2013)
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Winner of "Jugend Musiziert" (Germany, 2014) (Best Youth Big Band Nation Wide with "JayJayBeCe")
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Bass Solo Competition "Bass Solo Fun" (USA, 2014)
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Award Recipient "Thomann Bass Day" (2014)
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“Custom Music Duisburg" award for outstanding bass performance in cooperation with bass players magazine "Bass Quarterly" (Germany, 2015)
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Generous endorsements, including the dedication of a "Niklas Lukassen Signature Bass Guitar Model" from "Merlos" (Spain, 2016)
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Scholar of the "Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now e.V." foundation (Germany, 2016)
Niklas Lukassen showcases an equally lyrical sensibility and skillful command on both the upright bass and the bass guitar. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Jazz Institute Berlin and a Masters’s Degree from Manhattan School of Music, where he graduated on a full scholarship under his mentor Ron Carter. Further formal learning experiences included two summers at Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residency in Washington D.C..
In addition to his activities as a side man, he also frequently displays his talents as a composer and bandleader. With curiosity he pursues a distinct sound with unique characteristics, exploring rarely heard qualities on the fretless bass guitar and playing the upright bass with a pick. Expressing a keen interest in different musical worlds and forms of creative improvised music, his activities have sparked collaborations with the likes of Mike Stern, Richie Beirach, Jorge Rossy and Joe Lovano.
As a vocalist he was part of ensembles such as the German National Jazz Orchestra (BuJazzO).
His life in music thus far has led him on tours across China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, West Africa, the USA and much of Europe. Sought after also beyond the realm of Jazz, he has performed at Lincoln Center, Beacon Theatre, John F. Kennedy Center, Berliner Philharmonie and many major popular music festivals with acts under Universal Music Group.
A passionate educator, Niklas Lukassen holds teaching positions at the Music Conservatory Carl Maria von Weber Dresden and at the British Institute for Modern Music in Berlin.