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Simon Pilbrow
Melbourne-based jazz pianist
About Me
Melbourne based, freelance jazz pianist Learned classical piano and violin as
a child, spent year in US 1979, studied briefly at Wisconsin Conservatory of
Music, Milwaukee 1979; leader of Monash Jazz Quintet (1980- 82), Monash
University Big Band 1982-3, solo jazz piano gigs 1980-now, Simon Pilbrow
Quartet 1983-4, Julian Driscoll Quartet 1985-87; performed with Allan
Browne, Gary Costello, Geoff Kluke, Ben Robertson; Nick Haywood; Edward
York; guitarist George Golla in June 1988; house pianist Royal Derby Jazz
Jam (1990); Graham Finch Quartet (1999-2002) and Peninsula Jazz Trio
(2002->2009), residency Hickinbotham’s Winery (2000-2006), and featured
guests including Savannah Blount, Gianni Marinucci; Pete Mitchell, many
others, and Australian jazz legends George Golla, Alan Lee and Don
Burrows; “Dizzy’s” Big Band 2004
Led Simon Pilbrow Trio and ran a series of fundraiser jazz concerts for relief
of world natural disasters 2010-2011. Solo piano fundraisers 2015-16 for
projects in East Timor. More recently gigs with singer Lizzy Gascoigne and
with saxophonist Ron Gillett in the Ron Gillett/Simon Pilbrow Duo.
Also active in church music since 1974 and in recent years played on music
team at New Peninsula Church (2009-2016).
Many jazz compositions (including “Ballad for Thad”, “Tribute” (to Bill Evans)
and “Studio City”). Selection of early compositions (pre-1988) are now
permanently held in the US Library of Congress, in the Gerry Mulligan
Collection. Check the collection at
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/eadmus.mu011017.3
CD entitled Colours Of Sound - Simon Pilbrow with the Brent Fischer
Orchestra (Clavo Records) - featuring 12 Simon Pilbrow compositions, with
arrangements by Brent Fischer, recorded in Los Angeles, with a cast of brilliant mainly West
Coast jazz musicians, was released on September 27 2017. You can buy the Colours of Sound CD
via simonpilbrowmusic.com - check it out!!. MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA CD LAUNCH MARCH 23rd.
this high water mark recording is loaded with killer moves that keep your ears on the move”
– Chris Spector, Mid West Record
vibrant and enthralling - Shaun Brady, jazz journalist
warmth and melodic substance, arrangements that are plush …” -Musical Memoirs
Medical Biography studied medicine Monash University, Australia, MBBS
1985; medical research 1988-1991, intl. publications, PhD 1993. Working as
full time General Practitioner since 1992
married, 2 sons
Gear
Roland RD 700 digital/electronic piano Yamaha M1 acoustic piano
My Jazz Story
I was first exposed to jazz via playing Scott Joplin rags on piano in early 1970s, reading a book about Joplin and then how jazz evolved from this and the blues and marching bands through Louis Armstrong et al, and then seeking out the music on some wonderful jazz radio programs in Melbourne Australia in the 1970s, and via our next door neighbour Terry's jazz record collection, and then trying to play the music with my brother Tim—and that's where my love of this great music began. It hasn't stopped growing. The first jazz record I bought was the mid-1940s recording Sugar Hill Shuffle by Count Basie and His Orchestra. My advice to new listeners is to start with the earliest jazz and move forward— there are now 100 years of recorded jazz to enjoy, and it all makes a lot of sense if you listen chronologically, and your listening 'ears' will grow with the music Then whatever you hear will fit into a rich historical context... listen and enjoy all of it... and read all you can about the music and its creators—it will enrich your understanding and point you to the greatest musicians and the best music to listen to. Be prepared for a lot of exciting surprises and to be continually amazed by this great music. Keep on listening and enjoying it! If you find a musician or style you particularly enjoy, then just immerse yourself in it!