Pianist-composer Gwilym Simcock is looking forward to returning to Glasgow when he appears with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra at the Royal Concert Hall on Friday April 28.
Now an internationally-acclaimed musician, whose recent activity has included touring the world with superstar guitarist Pat Metheny, Simcock played in the city in two contrasting situations some years ago.
One concert featured him with the Scottish Ensemble and the other in a jazz piano duet with his mentor John Taylor in 2008.
“The duet with JT, as everyone knew him, was particularly memorable,” says Bangor-born Simcock who at the time of the concert with Taylor had recently become the first jazz musician to be given BBC New Generation Artist status.
'Guiding light'
“We didn’t get to play piano duets too often, because there are not many venues that can provide two grand pianos.
“It was great to play with JT, though, because he’d been a real guiding light for me as a student at the Royal Academy of Music and Drama. He passed away in 2015, so I’ll be thinking of him this time, I know.”
Simcock had already been earning praise for his musicianship for some time when he went to London to study at the Royal Academy.
At the age of eleven, in 1992, he had achieved the highest marks in the country for his Associated Board Grade 8 exams on both piano and French horn.
He went on to study these two instruments plus composition at the prestigious Chetham’s Music School in Manchester where two teachers – pianist Les Chisnall and Steve Berry, who had played bass in the anarchic London big band Loose Tubes – introduced him to jazz.
As a composer, you want your music realized to the highest level, so I’m extremely excited to create this programme of music, especially for the SNJO.
Gwilym Simcock
“JT was brilliant, really inspiring, but other tutors helped me develop as a jazz pianist at the Academy,” says Simcock. “Nikki Iles, Nick Weldon and Geoff Keezer were also great guides.”
Simcock graduated with a first-class honours degree and the Principal's Prize for outstanding achievement and was soon showing his ability to shine in both classical music and jazz as a professional.
He has undertaken commissions for the Aronowitz Ensemble and the Britten Sinfonia and his jazz experience includes work with vocalist Bobby McFerrin, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, saxophonists Lee Konitz and Peter King, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Bill Bruford’s Earthworks.
Along with British guitar legend Mike Walker he co-leads the Anglo-American supergroup The Impossible Gentlemen.
The late, great jazz pianist and keyboards player Chick Corea described Simcock as “an original, a creative genius” and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra’s artistic director, saxophonist Tommy Smith is a long-time admirer.
“When I heard Gwilym playing a solo piano concert, I was transfixed and loved every minute,” says Smith, who has commissioned Simcock to compose a new work, entitled Release, for the tour that brings Simcock and the SNJO to Glasgow.
Delighted
Simcock, who was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize in 2011 and has worked with top European ensembles including the NDR Big Band, is delighted to be joining the SNJO on tour.
“It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to write for such a brilliant, world-famous ensemble,” he says. “As a composer, you want your music realized to the highest level, so I’m extremely excited to create this programme of music, especially for the SNJO.”
- The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra presents Release. Music by Gwilym Simcock, directed by Tommy Smith. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, New Auditorium, April 28, 7.30pm. Tickets are available here.
