Jim Nichols
Jim Nichols is living proof that you don’t have to be a
child of the big city to become an outstanding jazz musician.
Born into a musical family, Nichols’ youth in rural Virginia
was filled with music practically from day one. Nichols’
father, a trombonist, toured with big bands led by Jimmy
Dorsey and Charlie Spivak, while his mother made a living
as a professional pianist.
His parents bought him a guitar at age 10, and it wasn’t
long before Nichols was woodshedding.
“I heard a Duane Eddy version of ‘Trambone’ by Chet
Atkins, and I thought it was the greatest,” Nichols says. “I
slowly figured out the thumb part and finger part. From
that day on I was a thumbpicking fool. “
Nichols began studying every old Chet Atkins records
he could get his hands on, and learned as many of Atkins’
fingerstyle solos by ear as best he could.
“Along the way I got a pretty good course in guitar
from those records,” Nichols says. “Chet has such a great
way of playing things like ‘Liza’ and ‘Heartaches.’ In my
middle teens I was also listening to the Ventures and Chuck
Berry, and my parents had some jazz records as well. As
they saw my interest grow, they started turning me on to
Django, Joe Pass, Charlie Christian, Oscar Peterson, and
Wes Montgomery. So I was exposed to pretty broad range
of music. Howard Roberts was one of the first jazz guitarists
I heard on the radio, those old quartet records of his. In