Born: February 24, 1981 Primary Instrument: Piano
”I feel confident that Simcock already deserves to occupy the inner circle of the great contemporary pianists along with Mehldau, Jarrett, and Rubalcaba” David Kane, Cadence U.S.A.
28 year old, Gwilym Simcock is one of the most gifted pianists and imaginative composers on the British scene. Able to move effortlessly between jazz and classical music, he can, at times, inhabit both worlds and has been described as stylistically reminiscent of Keith Jarrett, complete with ‘harmonic sophistication and subtle dovetailing of musical traditions’ as well as being a pianist of ‘exceptional’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘dazzling’ ability. His music has been widely acclaimed as ‘engaging, exciting, often unexpected, melodically enthralling, complex and wonderfully optimistic’.
Gwilym’s influences include jazz legends Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea and John Taylor and classical composers Maurice Ravel and Igor Stravinsky, Mark-Anthony Turnage. Although principally a jazz artist, Gwilym is breaking new ground between genres and often uses classical reference points in his composed work.
Aside from his renowned solo piano work, Gwilym has worked extensively throughout Europe with the cream of British and international jazz artists including Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, Bob Mintzer and Bobby McFerrin. His own groups as leader range from trio to big band. His debut album “Perception” featuring his sextet with Stan Sulzmann (saxophones), John Parricelli (guitar), Phil Donkin (bass), Martin France (drums) and Ben Bryant (percussion). was nominated for Best Album in the BBC Jazz Awards 2008 and has been critically acclaimed at home and abroad.
Winner of the Perrier Award, BBC Jazz Awards 2005. British Jazz Awards 2005 Gwilym was the first BBC Radio 3 New Generation jazz Artist. He was voted “Jazz Musician of the Year” at the 2007 Parliamentary Jazz Awards nominated for the 2008 BBC Jazz Awards as Best Instrumentalist. His impressive formal education includes Trinity College of Music (London), Chetham’s School of Music (Manchester)--where he studied classical piano, French horn and composition and the Royal Academy of Music (London) where he graduated from the jazz course with first class honours and the coveted 'Principal's Prize' for outstanding achievement.
GWILYM SIMCOCK TRIO with Yuri Goloubev (bass) and James Maddren (drums)
Yuri Goloubev was born in Moscow, Russia in 1972 where he studied classical bass and composition at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatoire. In 2002 he became the youngest bass player in the history of both the USSR and Russia to be awarded the prestigious title of the “Honoured Artist of Russia” by President Putin and was featured in the international magazine “Harper’s Bazaar”. From 1991 to 1992 Yuri performed with the Bolshoi Opera, and from 1992 till 2004 was Principal Bass with one of the world’s most noted chamber orchestras the “Moscow Soloists” directed by Yuri Bashmet. Here he collaborated with many top classical artists: Thomas Quasthoff, Lynn Harrell, James Galway, Gidon Kremer, Barbara Hendricks, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Vladimir Spivakov, Maxim Vengerov and has performed at many major concert halls throughout the world including Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House.
After a splendid career in classical music Yuri moved to Milan in December 2004 to dedicate himself to his “true calling”--jazz music. In Italy, his “adopted home”, he rapidly attracted the attention of many well known Italian musicians, and has since collaborated with Enrico Pieranunzi, Rosario Giuliani, Franco Cerri, Glauco Venier, Claudio Fasoli, Giovanni Falzone, Guido Manusardi, Gianni Cazzola, Massimo Manzi and musicians from overseas Franco Ambrosetti, Gwilym Simcock, Ron Horton, Mike Serin, Michael Rosen, Klaus Gesing, John Law, Bill Smith, Paul Bollenback, Shawn Monteiro, Christoph Spendel, Adam Nussbaum, Miles Griffith and others.
Yuri’s playing and compositions are featured on over 40 CD recordings as leader or co-leader. In 2007 joined the jazz faculty of Centro Professione Musica (CPM) in Milan. yurigoloubev.com
James Maddren was born and brought up in Christ's Hospital School in Horsham, Sussex. When 11 he started school at Christ's Hospital and went on to play in several bands and orchestras. He left CH in summer 2005 and is currently studying jazz percussion at the Royal Academy of Music in London. James enjoys listening to and playing all kinds of music. He has plays with Marc Copland/Stan Sulzmann quartet, Phil Donkin, Gwilym Simcock, Kit Downes Trio, Martin Speake quartet, Phronesis, Jonathan Bratoeff quartet, Tangent, Andrea Vicari quintet, Quentin Collins, Claire Martin and many other musicians and bands across London and the U.K.
Recent and forthcoming Projects include:
2006-8
- 2006-8 BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist--the first ever jazz artist to be appointed to the scheme. This resulted in numerous radio appearances as a solo pianist and with his the Gwilym Simcock Trio.
- A tour and commission with The Scottish Ensemble (Chamber Orchestra), 2007 broadcast on July 1st 2007 on BBC Radio Scotland and again on BBC Radio 3 on October 12th.
- A Big Band project in Cheltenham Jazz Festival, 2007 broadcast on BBC Radio on 1st June 2007
- Guest soloist on Mark Antony Turnage’s new commission with London Sinfonietta for the re-opening of the South Bank Complex at Queen Elizabeth Hall, June 2007
- Klavier Festival Ruhr--solo concert performance and live recording - Gwilym chosen by Chick Corea, June 2007. This concert was be broadcast on WDR radio and 20,000 copies were given away as a covermount CD in Germany’s leading music magazine FONOFORUM.
- Appearance at the 2007 North Sea Jazz Festival
- A commission and major tour of Cathedrals with Acoustic Triangle and Sacconi Strings in 2008
- Gwilym on the front cover of the August 2007 issue of the UK’s leading Jazz journal JAZZWISE
- Debut album “Perception” released on 5th November 2007 and tour dates in November, December 2007 and Spring/Summer 2008.
- A commission for a new work for the Aronowitz Ensemble at the City of London Festival in July 2008.
- A major commission for new work with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the BBC PROMS on August 9th 2008.
2009
- A 2006 commission and recording for piano concerto with big band with the NDR Big Band in Germany performed and toured again with the NDR in January 2009 and April 2009 where the final appearance was at the major jazz conference JazzAhead.
- A major commission for new work for the 40th anniversary of Chetham’s School on March 8th 2009 at the Bridgewater Hall.
- A major choral commission “Tales of Freedom” for Norfolk an Norwich Festival
- Appearance at the 2009 Proms on 31st August 2009 with the Aronowitz Ensemble performing “Contours” originally commissioned by the City of London Festival in July 2008
- 2009 UK and Far East Tour with Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Trio.
- Ongoing European and UK dates with the Gwilym Simcock Trio and the recording of a new album “Blues Vignette” due for release in late 2009 followed by a European and UK Tour.
Awards:
2003 Winner of the Perrier Award, 2005 BBC Jazz Award - Rising Star . 2005 British Jazz Awards - Rising Star 2006-8 First BBC Radio 3 New Generation jazz Artist. 2007“Jazz Musician of the Year” All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2009 Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, London“I feel confident that Simcock already deserves to occupy the inner circle of the great contemporary pianists along with Mehldau, Jarrett, and Rubalcaba” David Kane, Cadence U.S.A.
“Gwilym’s an original. A creative genius” Chick Corea
“No young musician outside the pop world has moved as fast into the upper reaches of his profession as Simcock”. Stuart Nicholson, Observer
“A phenomenal talent, Simcock is a jewel in the crown of the country's jazz scene, and it was a joy and honour to have him playing such an integral role in this year's festival”. Rob Garratt, Norwich Evening News
“the ever-awesome Simcock” John Fordham, The Guardian
“If this is just the beginning, the coming years defy imagining”. John Fordham, The Guardian (of Gwilym's album Perception 16th Nov 2007)
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Primary Instrument:
Piano
Willing to teach:
Advanced students only.
Credentials/Background:
Associate of Royal Academy of Music, London
Professor of Piano at Royal Academy of Music, London
Masterclasses by arrangement
