Gwilym Simcock

Born in England in 1981, Simcock displayed exceptional musical talent from childhood, taking up both piano and French horn. Focusing on the piano, he discovered jazz during studies in Manchester under Steve Berry before relocating to London for further training at the Royal Academy of Music, where John Taylor and Nikki Iles served as his instructors.

In 2001 he belonged to the ensemble that received the Perrier Young Jazz Ensemble award, and he subsequently appeared with the BBC Big Band as well as the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. During 2003 he joined Kenny Wheeler’s tour on French horn; that same year he succeeded John Horler at the piano chair in Acoustic Triangle, contributing to the group’s Audio-B Records releases Catalyst (2003) and Resonance (2005). Returning to Wheeler’s band in 2005, Simcock now performed on piano. Also in 2005 he gave a solo recital at the London Jazz Festival that earned widespread praise and enthusiastic response, and he introduced a piano concerto written by Tim Garland with the Northern Sinfonia. Early in 2006 he led a quintet on the road featuring Stan Sulzmann on saxophone (occasionally replaced by Garland), John Parricelli on guitar, Phil Donkin on bass, and Martin France on drums, with Norma Winstone adding vocals on selected dates.

Whether directing his own groups or appearing as a soloist, Simcock’s command of composition clearly fuels his growth as a notable jazz artist. At times he enlarges these ensembles into big-band formats that reveal comparable invention and expertise.