Updated: June 10, 2020
Born: April 13, 1955
SIMON SPANG-HANSSEN saxophonist & composer 1955 Born in Copenhagen, Denmark on April 13th
1970 Starts playing alto-saxophone, later also tenor and soprano
1976 Member of ”Strange Brothers” with Peter Danstrup , Ole Rømer and John Tchicai.
1978 Receives the annual Ben Webster Price and creates his own quartet Spacetrain” with Ben Besiakov, Jesper Lundgaard and Alex Riel.
1979 Plays in many different groups with among others: Jan Kaspersen, Pierre Doerge, Marilyn Mazur, Atilla Engin, Okay Temiz, Mozar Terra, Chuim, Jesper Zeuthen,the Voodoo Gang….
1983 Joins the sextet of Brazilian drummer and composer Nenê, tours in Denmark and France (double-concertsl with Hermeto Pascoal e Grupo).
1985 Moves to Paris and plays with a.o.: Denis Badault ( National Jazz Orch.,quartet,duo,) Andy Emler, Nguyên Lê, Quintet Moutin, Ramuntcho Matta, Edouard Ferlet and with his own projects including musicians such as: Richard Bona, Billy Hart,Niels Lan Doky, J.F. Jenny-Clarke, Bojan Z., Alain Jean-Marie, Simon Goubert,Xavier Desandre, Mariane Bitran…
1995 Release of ”Mardi Gras, Chez Toi” and creation of ”Maaneklar” (a quintet with sax,flute, bass and two percussionists). Release of”Ekwata”, duo with D. Badault.
1998 Moves back to Copenhagen and creates the tentet ”Central Earth” with among others: Poul Reimann,Fredrik Lundin, Bjarne Roupé, Marc Davis, Anders Mogensen… records ”Wondering” with Maaneklar for Dacapo.
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Album Review
- Ear Witness by Annika Westman
- Noctiflore by Annika Westman
- Wondering by Glenn Astarita
Simon Spang-Hanssen, tenor & soprano saxophone, whose imagination seems unexhaustible... Michel Contat , Telerama ( FR )
He makes you think of Johnny Griffin because of the vélocity and the impatience, Dexter Gordon because of a sort of half-feinted nonchalance , immediately contradicted by his George Adams side ( a certain way of transgressing the references by lyricism and excess ) Franck Bergerot , Jazz Hot ( FR )
Simon Spang-Hanssen is a very impressive technician whether performing on alto or soprano-sax
Primary Instrument
Saxophone
Location
Copenhagen
Clinic/Workshop Information
Ensemble-playing. Based on a series of originals the students( all levels ) works with interpretation, form , section-work, creativity, spontaneous arrangements, reading, understanding of structure, sound, improvisation... Ideally the clinic runs for a couple of days and end with a concert.
"Rhythmic Music Conservatory", Copenhagen ,the Fyen Conservatory, music-schools in Sønderborg, Brandbjerg(Denmark )... Clinics in Grenoble,Rouen, Montpellier (France ), Mexico D.C.

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saxophone

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keyboards

bass, electric
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