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Gwilym Simcock Big Band
Gwilym Simcock piano
Mark Lockheart, Julian Siegel, Stan Sulzmann saxophones
Noel Langley, Robbie Robson trumpets
Chris Parkes, Paul Robinson French horn
Trevor Mires, Louis Edney trombones
John Parricelli guitar
Laurence Cottle bass
Martin France drums
Jules Buckley conductor
www.gwilymsimcock.com
A dazzling pianist and talented young composer, stylistically reminiscent of Keith Jarrett or John Taylor, Gwilym Simcock seamlessly fuses jazz and classical styles – a talent recently rewarded with a place on Radio 3’s coveted New Generation Artists scheme, until now reserved for classical musicians. He joined us with his all-star big band (just check out the line-up!) for an excellent second performance of the tour de force ‘Lichfield Suite’.
Press reviews and comments
“A jaw-droppingly exciting pianist.”
The Guardian
"Though still in his early twenties, Gwilym Simcock has already played with the cream of the jazz world… He looks like being a piano star of the future."
The Independent
"This pianist is exceptional, as both player and composer."
The Observer
Press reviews of Gwilym's 2007 Cheltenham Jazz Festival concert
"Gwilym Simcock put extra gloss on an already shining Cheltenham reputation... and proved himself to be a classy jazz composer in a medium that dearly needs such infusions of fresh talent if it is to be kept vibrant."
Vortex Jazz Club blog
What makes Gwilym Simcock part of our Jerwood Jazz Generation
“Gwilym’s sets at Cheltenham Jazz Festival ‘06 were high among the highlights of that festival: first with Lee Konitz and then immediately afterwards with his own group. I heard the premiere of his Lichfield Suite at the Lichfield Festival not long after and decided that this was a good project for Cheltenham. It is, I believe, important that major festivals give artists the opportunity to have a second performance of large scale commissioned works that for reasons of cost cannot be played that often.”
Tony Dudley-Evans
Where you’ve seen him before
Gwilym’s first appearance at Cheltenham was in 2006, as one of our Jerwood Rising Stars and as a guest with Lee Konitz.
 Gwilym is a Radio 3 New Generation Artist. This scheme is supported by Aviva PLC.
Latest news
Gwilym was awarded the prize for 2007 Jazz Musician of the Year at the annual Parliamentary Jazz Awards and has been granted an extension to his place on the Radio 3 New Generation artists programme until October 2008. He is nominated for the BBC Jazz Award for Best Instrumentalist.
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