Fred Simon

Last updated
Fred Simon
Birth nameFrederick Victor Simon
Genres Jazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentPiano
Years active1970s–present
Labels Flying Fish, Windham Hill, Naim, NorthSound

Frederick Victor Simon is an American pianist and composer. [1]

Contents

Simon first gained recognition with Simon & Bard, the jazz fusion group he founded in Chicago with composer and reed player Michael Bard, drummer Phil Gratteau, and bassist Ken Haebich. [2] The group toured widely [3] and recorded three acclaimed albums [2] including collaborations with Larry Coryell and Ralph Towner. [4] Members of the Simon & Bard group Paul Wertico and Steve Rodby left to join the Pat Metheny Group, and Mark Walker left to join the band Oregon. Simon often performs in the Chicago area with his wife, drummer Sarah Allen, and frequently collaborates with guitarist David Onderdonk.

The Beach Boys Distilled

In 2018, Al Gomes and Connie Watrous of Big Noise served as Executive Producers, along with Simon, for the remastering and re-release of Simon's collection of solo piano interpretations of pop classics by The Beach Boys. [5] Grammy Award-winning Beach Boys producer Alan Boyd also assisted heavily with the project. The album was placed on the Official Ballot for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards by The Recording Academy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. Further validation of the recording was achieved when The Beach Boys' official magazine ESQ posted a rave review of the album. [6] 'Just beautiful,' said Beach Boy Mike Love.

Discography

With Simon & Bard

With Jerry Goodman

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References

  1. "Fred Simon (3)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  2. 1 2 "Jazz Group Simon & Bard Return to UNLV" The Yellin Rebel University of Las Vegas, Nevada, Issue 13, Volume 2, November 29, 1984 http://digital.library.unlv.edu/objects/reb/6264
  3. "History of Lionel Hampton Festival" Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Feb 23, 1993, page 17.
  4. "Simon & Bard* Featuring Larry Coryell - Musaic". Discogs.com. 1980. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  5. 1 2 "Fred Simon - The Beach Boys Distilled on Soundcloud". soundcloud.com.
  6. "Fred Simon ESQ Beach Boys Magazine Review". esquarterly.com. 27 December 2018.