Fred Simon

Bio:

Fred Simon has been making music for more than thirty-five years, composing for records, live performance, film, dance, and television, with instrumentation ranging from solo piano to symphonic orchestra. His recorded work includes seven albums of original music under his name: SHORT STORY and TIME AND THE RIVER (Quaver), USUALLY/ALWAYS (Windham Hill), OPEN BOOK (Columbia), DREAMHOUSE (The Naim Label), REMEMBER THE RIVER (The Naim Label), and SINCE FOREVER (The Naim Label); three albums (as principle composer) with the Simon and Bard Group: MUSAIC, TEAR IT UP, and THE ENORMOUS RADIO (Flying Fish); as well as TWILIGHT (NorthSound Music Group), a collaboration with reed player Paul McCandless and guitarist Teja Bell; THE MUSIC OF THE BEACH BOYS (NorthSound Music Group), an album of solo piano arrangements of Brian Wilson songs; and numerous appearances on compilations released by Windham Hill, Columbia, Narada, Private Music, Imaginary Road, NorthSound Music Group, Jazziz Magazine, and The Naim Label.

Fred has recorded and/or performed with Ralph Towner (Oregon), Paul McCandless (Oregon), Larry Coryell, Lyle Mays, Iain Matthews (Fairport Convention), Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Steve Rodby and Paul Wertico (Pat Metheny Group), Bonnie Herman (Singers Unlimited), Kurt Elling, Fareed Haque, David Onderdonk, Ingrid Graudins, Ross Traut, The Stan Kenton Orchestra, and many others.

Future plans call for more of the same, only different.

What they talk about when they talk about Fred ...

A pianist of rare compositional lyricism ... with the more ambitious SINCE FOREVER, Simon's lost none of his capacity for detail, or for shaping melodies that linger, long after the performances are over. His attractive and accessible writing hints at quintessentially American composers like Aaron Copland and Charles Ives.
-- John Kelman, All About Jazz – September 21, 2009
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=34160

[Fred Simon's] lyrical touch and keen melodic sense transcend the merely meditative, and his original tunes haunt the memory without ever seeming trite. Simon’s latest release, SINCE FOREVER has been haunting me for several weeks now. I find myself returning to it day after day, always discovering some subtle rhythmic change or some exquisite harmonic phrase that I had missed the last time. Conversely, his tunes often sound timeless on first hearing. That is a true composer’s natural gift and a listener’s delight.
-- Tom Ineck, Berman Music Foundation – September 21, 2009
http://www.bermanmusicfoundation.org/cdrev09.htmFred%20Simon

Anyone who is a fan of Oregon and/or the lyrical side of Keith Jarrett will find this music most appealing ... [SINCE FOREVER] combines substantial melodic and harmonic invention with improvisation.
-- Grego Applegate Edwards, Gapplegate Music Review – September 29, 2009
http://gapplegatemusicreview.blogspot.com/2009/09/fred-simon-and-difference-between-new.html

[SINCE FOREVER] is a beautifully crafted CD in virtually every respect
-- David Kane, Cadence magazine – January - March, 2009

A deft composer and player, Simon may not record as frequently as his fans would like, but when he does come by for an audio visit [SINCE FOREVER], it’s a well received one loaded with the warmth of an over due Christmas homecoming.
-- Chris Spector, Midwest Record – August 28, 2009
http://www.midwestrecord.com/

[SINCE FOREVER] is vibrant and essential... pure sonic pleasure ... MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
-- Dick Metcalf, Improvijazzation Nation
http://zzaj.freehostia.com/Z96Reviews.htm

I’m having trouble getting this one out of my CD player [SINCE FOREVER].
-- Brian McCoy, Oakland Jazz Music Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/x-12458-Oakland-Jazz-Music-Examiner~y2009m9d6-CD-roundup-So-many-great-albums-so-little-time

REMEMBER THE RIVER will appeal most to fans of the more lyrical side of Oregon, Pat Metheny Group and Keith Jarrett, but make no mistake, Simon has his own distinctive approach which, for a Chicago native, evokes surprising images of open spaces and broader vistas. And with the firm support of (Steve) Rodby [on bass] and the provocative playing of (Paul) McCandless [on woodwinds], he has fashioned an album of sensitive grace, charm and dignity.
-- John Kelman, AllAboutJazz.com, November 2004

[DREAMHOUSE] creates its own dream environment, this trio outing by pianist Simon boasts lovely, restfully unfolding melodies that draw liberally from folk and classical forms.
-- Lloyd Sachs, Chicago Sun-Times - 10 best of the year 2000: Chicago's Jazz Greats, January 5, 2001

DREAMHOUSE [is] by far the best of the six discs under his own name ... For me, the success of his work depends entirely on his ability to gracefully understate its emotional content, something he does to a T on DREAMHOUSE.
-- Neil Tesser, Chicago Reader - Critic's Choice, October 6, 2000

A truly melodic musician with ambitious vision ... DREAMHOUSE showcases Simon's splendid ability as both a jazz composer and improviser ... With intimate performances on original compositions, Simon reminds us exactly how and why he has survived as a working musician in Chicago for nearly three decades.
-- Mitch Myers, New City, October 5, 2000

Fred Simon is one of Chicago's treasured pianists and a fine composer. He has an original, defined approach to the piano ... and a nice touch. His compositions seem to have something for everyone and although expressing a full range of emotion, they are uplifting to the spirit. [DREAMHOUSE]
-- Marshall Vente, Jazz Institute of Chicago, November 2000.

DREAMHOUSE is a beautifully conceived and well-crafted album of piano jazz which will appeal to listeners looking for beauty in simplicity; this is a recording that stays with you and compels you to put it on again and again.
-- John Kelman, Jazz Views (jazzviews.co.uk), October 2003

In striving for pure melodic beauty, you run the risk of sentimentality or worse. But on [DREAMHOUSE], Chicago pianist Fred Simon bolsters his singing lines with reflective weight ... Spare and restful, never forcing its stylistic hand, the music takes its time to unfold while drawing you to it with its firm rhythmic pulse ... The sound is luminous, drawing out the inner shadows of Simon's originals.
-- Lloyd Sachs, Chicago Sun-Times, November 12, 2000

Jazz fusion is an orphan, scoffed at by purists of all persuasions. But when it's done as well as this record [OPEN BOOK] by Chicago composer-pianist Simon, you get the best of both worlds: the coy, pretty side of pop with the more sophisticated instrumentation and arrangements of jazz For those who fondly recall the fusion frisson that was generated by such past albums as Pat Metheny's AMERICAN GARAGE, take note: There's a new musical physicist in town.
-- David Hiltbrand, People, August 26, 1991

Fred Simon USUALLY/ALWAYS, one of the five best recordings of 1988.
-- Michael Fagien, publisher, Jazziz, December/January, 1989

[The] mix of his pop sensibilities with the complexities of jazz shines throughout Simon's originals on OPEN BOOK.
-- Mark Ruffin, Downbeat, April, 1991

[Fred Simon is] a gifted pianist with melodic sensibility, and an eclectic composer who can write in a wide variety of styles across multiple genres ... with sudden, clever changes of density and mood.
-- Dennis Polkow, Chicago Tribune, October 1, 1992

Simon's lush blend of synthesis and acoustic sound staged within well-crafted song structures could even be called "beyond new age" ... The sheer beauty of [his] soundscapes with their wraparound atmospheric colors belies the harmonic sophistication that is at the core of much of his writing.
-- Tim Hays, Jazziz, June/July 1988

Chicago based composer/keyboardist Fred Simon demonstrates his superb compositional talent with a tightly constructed blend of jazz and new age elements. His overall sound and musical textures are similar to those of Pat Metheny, but with less improvisation and more thoroughly worked out structures ... Although the playing is excellent, the primary feature of USUALLY/ALWAYS is Simon's exquisite compositions ... Subtle yet complex rhythms keep the music alive and vibrant while it unfolds through a series of carefully constructed chord progressions. The incredible shifting harmonies seem to modulate to ever satisfying and unexpected new key areas. USUALLY/ALWAYS is one of those unusual and special recordings that grows on you more with every listening.
-- Michael Harrison, Free Spirit, 1988

Fred Simon is a committed composer who draws equally from jazz, the Beatles, and European impressionism for his inspiration; a strong pianist, with Keith Jarrett sitting on one shoulder and Joni Mitchell on the other; an improviser whose skills continue to sharpen with each new project.
-- Neil Tesser, Chicago Reader - Critic's Choice, July 1, 1988

Beautiful melodies, lush harmonies, and rich textures abound in Simon's compositions ... a sweeping grandeur that is lovely and compelling. [USUALLY/ALWAYS] is an excellent album well worth investigating.
-- Gordon Neal Herman, Victory Music Review, October 1988

Like the essence of a short story, which is to convey a universality of life through a brief glimpse, a quick truth, Simon's compositions [on SHORT STORY] seem to speak beyond the finality of each note.
-- R. Bruce Dold, Illinois Entertainer, March 1985

One of the most satisfying musical offerings that I know of ... [Simon's] compositions are finely crafted, thoughtful, and quietly compelling. The open, rolling inflections of the Midwest are in his effortless playing, underpinned by a firm resolve and impeccable taste. This is music that allows you to dream without putting you to sleep. Needless to say, SHORT STORY has a rare and admirable quality, one that makes the album worth making space for.
-- Allan Brower, Cymbiosis, Vol. 1, number 3, 1985

Modern music's middle ground between jazz and classical, improvisation and composition, serves as home for pianist Simon ... his songs call out for the richly singing treatment he gives them. But, like Keith Jarrett (a strong influence), Simon unearths indelible phrases that shape his songs and arrangements.
-- Neil Tesser, USA Today, February 20, 1985

One of the hardest things to do these days is to make a solo piano album that's original and distinctive. Fred Simon strides confidently into the task, winning his listener from the first notes. [SHORT STORY] is personal, highly refined music that occupies the popular area between jazz and classical, improvisation and composition ... he has crafted a fully mature solo album that flows beautifully.
-- Stephen Hill, Hearts of Space, 1985

[THE ENORMOUS RADIO] epitomizes fusion in all forms, crossing stylistic barriers, experimenting with instrumentation, mixing power and beauty, progressiveness and simplicity. (Four and a half stars out of a possible five)
-- Robert Henschen, Downbeat, February 1985

[TEAR IT UP] Sophisticated music played with feeling ... All but one of the pieces here were written by Simon, who plays keyboards, and they're full of inventive themes, counter-themes, and abrupt tempo changes that make them as interesting to hear the twentieth time around as the first.
-- Mark Peel, Stereo Review Best of the Month, July 1983

[TEAR IT UP] is quality jazz-rock with plenty of melodic hooks, but plenty of fascinating changes within each piece as well. (Four and a half stars out of a possible five)
-- Robert Henschen, Downbeat, June 1983

Selected discography

- as a leader

Since Forever - The NAIM Label - naimcd124 - (2009) w/Paul McCandless, Steve Rodby, Mark Walker

Remember the River - The NAIM Label - naimcd081 - (2004) w/Paul McCandless, Steve Rodby

Dreamhouse - The NAIM Label - naimcd044 - (2000) w/Kelly Sill, Sarah Allen

Songs of My Youth, Vol. 1 - (private release) - (2000)

The Music of the Beach Boys - NorthSound Music Group 70512 (1998)

Twilight - NorthSound Music Group 94012 (1996) co-led w/Paul McCandless and Teja Bell

Open Book - Columbia 46798 (1991) w/Steve Rodby, Ross Traut, Bonnie Herman, Ingrid Graudins, David Onderdonk, Mark Walker

Usually/Always - Windham Hill 1071 (1988) w/Paul McCandless, Steve Rodby, Ross Traut, Bonnie Herman, Ingrid Graudins, David Onderdonk, Mark Walker, Iain Matthews

Time and the River - Quaver 1009 (1985) w/Liz Cifani, Bonnie Herman

Short Story - Quaver 1003 (1984)

- on samplers

Sampler 7 - The NAIM Label - naimcd130 (2009)

The Music Collection Volume 3 - The NAIM Label - naimlp111 (2008)

Sampler 6 - The NAIM Label - naimcd106 (2007)

A Windham Hill Christmas: The Night Before Christmas - Windham Hill/Legacy 71888 (2005)

Sampler 5 - The NAIM Label - naimcd094 (2005)

Cinema: A Windham Hill Collection - Windham Hill/Legacy 67068 (2005)

Windham Hill America - Windham Hill 60132-2 (2004)

True Stereo Sampler - The NAIM Label - naimcd080 - (2004)

Windham Hill Chill 2 - Windham Hill 57668-2 (2003)

The Music Collection LP 1 - The NAIM Label - naimlp070 - (2003)

Windham Hill Chill - Windham Hill 11676 (2003)

'Tis the Season - Windham Hill 01934-11668-2 (2002)

Homeland - JAZZIZ On Disc - (2002)

Sampler 3 - The NAIM Label - naimcd056 - (2001)

20 Years Of Narada Piano - Narada 72438 (2001)

On a Winter's Night - Imaginary Road 314-536-143 (1997)

Sanctuary: 20 Years of Windham Hill - Windham Hill 11180 (1996)

Windham Hill Piano Sampler (transcriptions published by Hal Leonard) (1994)

Romance: Music for Piano - Narada 61045 (1994)

A Jazzy Wonderland - Columbia 46805 (1990) with Traut/Rodby

Sampler '89 - Windham Hill 1082 (1989)

A Winter's Solstice 2 - Windham Hill 1077 (1988)

The World of Private Music, Vol. 2 - Private Music 2023-2-P (1987)

The Soul of the Machine - Windham Hill 1700 (1987)

- with the Simon & Bard Group

The Enormous Radio - Flying Fish 361 (1984) w/Larry Coryell, Paul Wertico

Tear It Up - Flying Fish 262 (1982) w/Ralph Towner, Steve Rodby, Paul Wertico

Musaic - Flying Fish 243 (1980) w/Larry Coryell, Steve Rodby, Paul Wertico

- with Paul McCandless

Premonition - Windham Hill 01934 (1992) w/Lyle Mays, Steve Rodby, Will Kennedy, Mark Walker

- with Kurt Elling

Flirting with Twilight - Blue Note 31113 (2001) as composer only

- with Jerry Goodman

It's Alive - Private Music 2026 (1988) reissued by One Way Records (2000)

Ariel - Private Music 2013 (1986) reissued by One Way Records (2000), also composer

On the Future of Aviation - Private Music 1301 (1985) reissued by One Way Records (2000)

- with Iain Matthews

Walking a Changing Line - Windham Hill 1070 (1988) also composer, arranger

- with Don Stiernberg

Home Cookin' - Blue Night Records BNR-219 (2007) as composer only

- with David Onderdonk

Lookout - Quaver 1011 (1986) also composer

Close Call - Quaver 1005 (1984) also composer

- with Fareed Haque

Manresa - Pangaea 82012 (1989) also composer

Voices Rising - Pangaea 42156 (1988)

- with Michael Manring

Drastic Measures - Windham Hill 1102 (1991)

- with Jeff Lazaroff

Row of Trees - jefflazaroff.com (2003)

- with Tom McCarthy

Spark and Luminance - Cosmic Vending Machine cvm002 (2002)

- with Liz Cifani..

Bella Stella - Mayapple 102 (1993)

- with Sergio Pires

Umbigo - Dende Music (1999)

Saudade - Dende Music (1994)

- with Al Rose

Information Overload - Whitehouse 2 (1994)

- with June Shellene

The Lost Art of Love - Waterhole Music 11112-8 (1996)

Member Since:

December 31, 2005

Members:

Although I currently don't have a regular band, I have had the great fortune and immense pleasure to have recorded and/or played with some of the greatest musicians in the world, including (but not limited to!) ...

Paul McCandless

Ralph Towner

Larry Coryell

Lyle Mays

Jerry Goodman

Iain Matthews

Steve Rodby

Paul Wertico

Ross Traut

Bonnie Herman

Kurt Elling

Mark Walker

Fareed Haque

David Blamires

David Friesen

Ingrid Graudins

Rob Amster

Dave Onderdonk

Sarah Allen

Bob Lizik

Jim Gailloreto

Larry Kohut

Bob Palmieri

Tom Hipskind

Johnny Rutledge

Ernie Denov

Tom McCarthy

Zach Brock

Liz Cifani

Kelly Sill

Teja Bell

Don Stiernberg

Brian Wilke

Michael Bard

Gary Hobbs

Clay Jenkins

Phil Gratteau

Ken Haebich

Larry Gray

Doug Lofstrom

Eric Hochberg

Rob Thomas

... and many others who hopefully will forgive me for not listing them here.

Influences:

These are a few of my favorite musicians:

Alison Krauss/Union Station

Aretha Franklin

Anders Widmark/Sara Isaksson

Andrea Zonn

Annie Lennox

Arvo Part

Art Lande

Bach

Bartok

Ben Folds

Bjork

Bill Evans

Bill Frisell

Bob Dylan

Bonnie Raitt

Brad Mehldau

Brian Wilson

Buffalo Springfield

Burt Bacharach

Cesaria Evora

Charles Lloyd

Charles Mingus

Charlie Haden

Chick Corea

Chopin

Copland

CSN&Y

Death Cab For Cutie

Debussy

Don Owens

Donny Hathaway

Eberhard Weber

Egberto Gismonti

Elliott Smith

Eva Cassidy

Fred Hersch

Grieg

Herbie Hancock

Hindemith

Iain Matthews

Ivan Lins

Jaco Pastorius

James Brown

James Taylor

Jan Garbarek

Jefferson Airplane

Jesse Harris

Jimi Hendrix

Joe Zawinul

John Abercrombie

John Coltrane

John Mayer

John Scofield

Jonatha Brooke/The Story

Judy Collins

Keith Jarrett

Kenny Werner

Kenny Wheeler

Larry Goldings

Leonard Cohen

Lyle Mays

Mahavishnu Orchestra/John McLaughlin

Marvin Gaye

Mendelssohn

Miles Davis

Milton Nascimento

Mompou

Morgan Powell

Mysterious Voices of Bulgaria

Nickel Creek

Norah Jones

Oregon

Paul Bley

Paul McCandless

Pat Metheny

Pete Seeger/Weavers

Peter Gabriel/Genesis

Police/Sting

Prokofiev

Rainer Bruninghaus

Ralph Towner

Ravel

Rickie Lee Jones

Salvatore Martirano

Satie

Shawn Colvin

Shostakovich

Simon & Garfunkel

Stravinsky

Steely Dan

Steve Reich

Stockhausen

Suzanne Vega

Terje Rypdal

The Band

The Beatles

The Byrds

Tom Jobim

Wayne Shorter

Weather Report

Woody Guthrie

Zappa

... and many, many, many others.

Sounds Like:

good music

Record Label:

Naim, Windham Hill, Columbia, Narada, Flying Fish