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Nica’s Tempo is the most common latter-day title of an album by the Gigi Gryce Orchestra and Quartet, recorded and first released in late 1955. The title track is a reference to Nica de Koenigswarter a.k.a. “The Bebop Baroness” or “The Jazz Baroness”, a patron of jazz musicians such as Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker.

The Allmusic review by Michael G. Nastos awarded the album 4½ stars and wrote that this album remains highly recommended with no reservation, and one for the ages.

Track listing:

Side 1 (by “Gigi Gryce Orchestra”)

“Speculation” (Horace Silver) – 4:03
“In a Meditating Mood” (Gigi Gryce) – 4:22
“Social Call” (Gryce, Jon Hendricks) – 2:43
“Smoke Signal” (Gryce) – 3:42
“(You’ll Always Be) The One I Love” (Gryce) – 3:28
“Kerry Dance” (traditional) – 3:00

Side 2 (by “Gigi Gryce Quartet”)

“Shuffle Boil” (Thelonious Monk) – 4:59
“Brake’s Sake” (Thelonious Monk) – 4:45
“Gallop’s Gallop” (Thelonious Monk) – 5:25
“Nica’s Tempo” (Gryce) – 6:06

Personnel:
Gigi Gryce – alto sax (all tracks)
Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6: Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey, October 22, 1955

Art Farmer – trumpet
Jimmy Cleveland – trombone
Gunther Schuller – french horn
Bill Barber – tuba
Danny Bank – baritone sax
Horace Silver – piano
Oscar Pettiford – bass
Kenny Clarke – drums
Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6: Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey, October 22, 1955

Art Farmer – trumpet
Eddie Bert – trombone
Julius Watkins – french horn
Bill Barber – tuba
Cecil Payne – baritone sax
Horace Silver – piano
Oscar Pettiford – bass
Art Blakey – drums
Ernestine Anderson – vocals
Tracks 7-10: Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey, October 15, 1955[9]

Thelonious Monk – piano
Percy Heath – bass
Art Blakey – drums

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Released: 1955
Recorded: October 15 & 22, 1955
Studio: Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey
Label: Savoy (originally issued on Signal Records)