About Me
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 six 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), and REMEMBER THE RIVER (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 ...
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 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: Theres 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 groundbetween jazz and classical, improvisation and compositionserves 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
Remember the River - The NAIM Label - naimcd081 - (2004)
Dreamhouse - The NAIM Label - naimcd044 - (2000)
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 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)
