Interview: Gwilym Simcock
Gwilym Simcock is a classically-trained jazz pianist and composer who, although still only in his mid-twenties, has been wowing crowds for a number of years with his virtuoso playing.
In 2007 he was the first jazz musician to be awarded a place on the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist scheme and he followed that up by being the only jazz artist to be nominated for the 2008 Radio 3 Listeners’ Award.
His trio, Acoustic Triangle, has received funding from the PRS Foundation and he also participated in the PRSF’s Take 5 professional development programme.
Gwilym released his debut album Perception in November 2007.
1. Who or what first inspired you to tickle the ivories?
My Dad was a Church organist and loved especially Russian classical music so there was always music around me from a very early age. I think I started bashing around when I was three.
2. What is your favourite part of being a professional musician?
Well I feel incredibly lucky to work with amazing musicians who also have become very close friends. Being a musician feels like being part of a great family, which I love. Also, getting paid to travel around the world is very enjoyable!
3. You are known to play both jazz and classical styles – do you find it easy to make the transition between both?
I'm not sure about easy but the main aim of any improvisation is for it to blend into the style of the music that you're playing at the time, whether that's classical, jazz, or any style, so that is always the primary objective.
4. Can you describe what is going through your mind whilst you are improvising?
Umm it depends!...I always find that when it's going well and flowing nicely you're not really thinking about anything and enjoying the experience as the music goes along. When I'm nervous and/or finding it hard, that's when you start doubting yourself, overanalysing things and the mind can generally be a pain!
5. What has been your proudest musical achievement to date?
Not yet going hungry! Seriously though, earning the respect of your fellow musicians is always the most important thing to me, and aside from that I was very proud to get the highest mark in the country for my grade 8 piano when I was 11.
6. Who is your hero, music-related or otherwise?
Aside from pianists I've always loved the music of Jaco Pastorius, I guess he was the classic troubled genius and I'm sure he would have gone on to make some really incredible music had he not have died so young in such a tragic way.
7. Who would you like to collaborate with, dead or alive?
Well I almost got to tour once with the wonderful and very sadly late, great American tenor player Michael Brecker. Sadly I had a clashing gig and couldn't do it so that will always be a regret that I never got to meet and play with him.
8. Do you have any plans to embark on a live tour?
I have been touring since late last year with my own band, in trio and sextet format, and will hopefully get my big band happening again at some point when there's time!
9. What is your most prized possession?
I've just finished paying for my very lovely Yamaha grand piano so quite proud of that. Aside from that my laptop has so many recordings I've made of gigs and photographs etc that it probably contains the things of the most sentimental value to me. I must get around to backing it up!!
10. Why are royalties important to you as a musician?
As a working musician you reply on your income coming from a whole range of sources and it's always pleasant to find that your music has being getting out there in a wide variety of places. Apparently one of my tunes was used behind an interview of Alistair Campbell. The tune was called Sneaky which I thought was ironic and amusing!
11. What do you have planned for the rest of 2008?
Well the big thing for me is that I'm doing a BBC Prom concert on the 9th August for which I'm currently writing a piece for jazz piano trio and orchestra, aside from that touring with my band and lots of fun trips abroad! Oh and celebrating the mighty Stoke City winning promotion....
http://www.gwilymsimcock.com/