Gwilym Simcock With Special Guest Joe Locke at 606 Club

A multi-award winning pianist, Gwilym is unquestionably one of the finest musicians of his generation. Fluent and highly inventive his powerful piano playing adds class to any group that he’s in. He includes work with the likes of Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, Bob Mintzer, Nigel Kennedy and Bobby McFerrin. on a dazzling CV and it’s a testament to his remarkable abilities that he has won the Perrier, BBC Jazz and British Jazz Rising Star Awards as well as being the first jazz musician to be a Radio 3 “New Generation Artist”. He won both "Best Band" and “Jazz Musician of the Year” at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, was nominated for two more BBC Jazz Awards and his album “Good Days at Schloss Elmau” was the 2011 album of the year at the prestigious ‘Barclaycard Mercury Prize’ awards. You get the idea – he’s very, very good! In the last few years, Gwilym has become renowned for his solo performances, touring throughout Europe, Australia, the USA, Canada, Korea and China. Although principally a jazz artist, Gwilym has also composed numerous works for larger Classical ensemble that combine through-composed elements with improvisation, creating a sound that is distinctive and very much his own. Gwilym has also written music that has appeared on television and on stage, most recently composing the music for an adaptation of Edward Albee’s classic ‘A Delicate Balance’ at the Almeida theatre in London. He has frequently appeared on British television and radio and was guest presenter on ‘Saturday Classics’ on BBC Radio 3, and he mentored and accompanied the finalists at the first BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year awards on BBC4 TV. Currently touring with iconic US guitarist Pat Metheny, Gwilym is established as an international artist of considerable standing, Chick Corea describing Gwilym as “a creative genius”, and he is rightly considered to be one of the most exciting talents to emerge from the UK in recent years. The Award winning US vibes player Joe Locke has been a presence on the International jazz scene since the early 80‘s and is widely considered to be one of the major voices on his instrument. He has performed and recorded with a diverse range of notable musicians, including Grover Washington Jr, Kenny Barron, Eddie Henderson, Cecil Taylor, Dianne Reeves, Ron Carter, The Beastie Boys, the Münster Symphony Orchestra and the Lincoln, Nebraska Symphony. Long known to be a soloist of impressive power and broad emotional range, it’s perhaps in the last decade that he has also emerged as the respected composer and band leader that he is considered to be today. He has won numerous awards and polls, including the 2006, 2008 and 2009 "Mallet Player of the Year" award from the Jazz Journalists Association, and the 2013 Hot House NYC Jazz Awards for best Vibes Player. He is active as a clinician and educator in the United States and Europe and has been the International Vibraphone Consultant at the Royal Academy of Music, London, on a visiting basis since 2008, holding the title of HonA RAM since 2013. Gwilym and Joe describe the gig as “Two generations from two different continents, two exciting instrumentalists at the top of their game; likeminded spirits who are connected by the joy of music making and playing together.”. The duo will play from a repertoire of their own compositions and known favourites, taking the audience on “a breathtaking ride of virtuosity and beauty.” Highly recommended. ...

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A multi-award winning pianist, Gwilym is unquestionably one of the finest musicians of his generation. Fluent and highly inventive his powerful piano playing adds class to any group that he’s in. He includes work with the likes of Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, Bob Mintzer, Nigel Kennedy and Bobby McFerrin. on a dazzling CV and it’s a testament to his remarkable abilities that he has won the Perrier, BBC Jazz and British Jazz Rising Star Awards as well as being the first jazz musician to be a Radio 3 “New Generation Artist”. He won both "Best Band" and “Jazz Musician of the Year” at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, was nominated for two more BBC Jazz Awards and his album “Good Days at Schloss Elmau” was the 2011 album of the year at the prestigious ‘Barclaycard Mercury Prize’ awards. You get the idea – he’s very, very good! In the last few years, Gwilym has become renowned for his solo performances, touring throughout Europe, Australia, the USA, Canada, Korea and China. Although principally a jazz artist, Gwilym has also composed numerous works for larger Classical ensemble that combine through-composed elements with improvisation, creating a sound that is distinctive and very much his own. Gwilym has also written music that has appeared on television and on stage, most recently composing the music for an adaptation of Edward Albee’s classic ‘A Delicate Balance’ at the Almeida theatre in London. He has frequently appeared on British television and radio and was guest presenter on ‘Saturday Classics’ on BBC Radio 3, and he mentored and accompanied the finalists at the first BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year awards on BBC4 TV. Currently touring with iconic US guitarist Pat Metheny, Gwilym is established as an international artist of considerable standing, Chick Corea describing Gwilym as “a creative genius”, and he is rightly considered to be one of the most exciting talents to emerge from the UK in recent years. The Award winning US vibes player Joe Locke has been a presence on the International jazz scene since the early 80‘s and is widely considered to be one of the major voices on his instrument. He has performed and recorded with a diverse range of notable musicians, including Grover Washington Jr, Kenny Barron, Eddie Henderson, Cecil Taylor, Dianne Reeves, Ron Carter, The Beastie Boys, the Münster Symphony Orchestra and the Lincoln, Nebraska Symphony. Long known to be a soloist of impressive power and broad emotional range, it’s perhaps in the last decade that he has also emerged as the respected composer and band leader that he is considered to be today. He has won numerous awards and polls, including the 2006, 2008 and 2009 "Mallet Player of the Year" award from the Jazz Journalists Association, and the 2013 Hot House NYC Jazz Awards for best Vibes Player. He is active as a clinician and educator in the United States and Europe and has been the International Vibraphone Consultant at the Royal Academy of Music, London, on a visiting basis since 2008, holding the title of HonA RAM since 2013. Gwilym and Joe describe the gig as “Two generations from two different continents, two exciting instrumentalists at the top of their game; likeminded spirits who are connected by the joy of music making and playing together.”. The duo will play from a repertoire of their own compositions and known favourites, taking the audience on “a breathtaking ride of virtuosity and beauty.” Highly recommended.

“I feel confident that Simcock already deserves to occupy the inner circle of the great contemporary pianists along with Mehldau, Jarrett, and Rubalcaba” Cadence USA; “...remarkable...exceptional, as both player and composer.” The Observer; "A phenomenal talent, Simcock is a jewel in the crown of the country's jazz scene" Norwich Evening News; "a jaw-droppingly exciting pianist" The Guardian; “Locke…A player with a pristine tone and delightful ideas no matter what musical setting he selects.” All About Jazz; “In the select group of contemporary vibes players, Locke has claims to head the list” Penguin Encyclopedia of Jazz; "Locke . . . stunning technique . . . one of the world’s most versatile vibes masters" Hot House

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