Simon Lasky's 50th Birthday Show
“...a joyous exuberant piece, brilliantly crafted on all levels, and with great textural and melodic writing.”
BBC Radio 3
Winner of the 2018 British Composer Award for ‘Jazz Composition for Small Ensemble', two 2024 Creative Loafing Best of The Bay Awards, a 2025 Palladium Creative Fellowship and regular endorsements from ISJAC (the International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers) Simon Lasky, now resident in Florida, USA, juggles a busy career as a composer, pianist, NPR jazz host, educationalist and recording artist. His three albums as leader showcase dozens of his compositions for large and small jazz ensembles with his music being performed at the Barbican and Wigmore Hall as well as broadcast extensively on BBC radio and NPR.
Tonight he will be performing music from his recent Ubuntu album 'For the Dreamers' alongside some brand new compositions and arrangements of choice standards with a fabulous band: Brandon Allen-sax, Shanti Jayasinha-trumpet, Geoff Gascoyne-bass & Sophie Alloway-drums. And if all that wasn’t enough Simon will also be celebrating his 50th Birthday tonight with his only UK date this year! Oh, and watch out for his Special Guest, the highly acclaimed vocalist Jo Harrop. Sounds like a lot of fun!
“Uplifting improvisational grooves, classy chops and exotic percussion, there’s no shortage of beautifully striking moments.” All About Jazz; "...a paean to well-constructed, uncluttered composition and honest-to-goodness musical texture. There are no rough edges to this sound" London Jazz News
Photo by Jayne Drooger
'For the Dreamers' review on Jazz Views :: UK Jazz News Interview