"minimal patterns, live and tape-loops acceptable in a different ambience, like with an audience of glue sniffers" Guardian
"displaying a wealth of technical and interpretative skill" "sounded like an orchestra of xylophones" Meiron Bowen Guardian "electrifying, known to conjure music from wiring up his naked body"
Starting out in 1978,whilst living in the East End of
London, Simon began playing solo concerts at schools, local multi-cultural
festivals, community centres and the Half Moon Theatre. He was encouraged
by the Arts Officer of Tower Hamlets, Peter Conway. The programmes included
music by Nicholas Wilson, Michael Finnissy, Dominic Muldowney, George
Hamilton Green, Red Norvo, Harry Breuer, Jeffery Wilson, Charlie Barber
and transcriptions of African xylophone music. There was always an element
of mixed-media with use of sound diffusion, tape, lights or theatrical
setting or action. Lawrence Casserley, then the Royal College of Music,
created the sound systems. An ensemble developed ,usually for two percussionists
and pianist, called, predictably, E1 Percussion. The players were usually
Gerald Kirby, Clive Malabar and Noriko Kwai. The repertoire included John
Cage, Charlie Barber, Jeffery Wilson and music by Simon. There was even
an audience-participation show, titled The Blind Beggar, with a dream
sequence and walking dead. This was scored for percussion trio, using
the skills of Bill Lockhart, and a singing actor. A Concert Series was organised
at the New Half Moon. Each concert was for a different percussion solo
with another component as follows: Percussion with Clarinet/ Rory Allam
, with Piano/Lucy Wilson, with Electronics/Gareth Jones, with Film/Mark
Limbrick.
1
982- Won an award in the Greater London Arts Young Musician
Scheme and played new pieces by John Barker, Charlie Barber , James Dillon
and conga solos learned from records. Presented solo concert at Wigmore
Hall. A solo show was taken on tour to Holland and some pieces were filmed
for television. At this time, Simon was performing Harrison Birtwistle's
Orestiea at the National Theatre and playing with the Lost Jockey.He went
to study in France with David Friedman, Ahmed Latif Khan , Jean Pierre
Drouet and Daniel Humair.
Premieres(World)(UK)
James Dillon TiReTiKeDha(W) Frederic Rzewski Lost and Found (W) David Owen Toque (W) Claude Vivier Cinq Chanson (W) Javier Alvarez Asi el Acero (W) Javier Alvarez Shekere (W) Barry Anderson Time (W) Michel Rozensweig Solo for Vibraphone (W) Michel Rozensweig Percussion Solo (W) Andrew Poppy Elvis Revenged (W) John Barker Rise and Fall (W) Charles Barber Typewriter (W) James Dillon La Coupure 3 rd section(W) SL/Ian Spink One Small Step (W) Mark Roland Latinfeedbacker (W) Helmut Oerhing Foxfire Drei (U) Richard Rodney Bennet After Syrinx Two (U) Hans Werner Henze Five Scenes from the Snow Country (U) Raul Tudon Toledo Play of Shadows (U) Raul Tudon Toledo Corrienda el Rio (U) Howard Skempton Arcade (W) Thea Musgrave From Spring to Spring (W) Harry de Wit Intermezzo (W) Brian Elias Solo for Steel Pan /JudasTree (W) Peter McGarr Sweet Steel Alone (W)
New Commissions
Philip Cashian / Composers' Ensemble /Bath / March 2000
John Woolrich / Fibonacci Sequence / Autumn/2000
Harry de Wit / Bath Ensemble / May 2000
Markus Trunk / Solo / Mar 2000
Hans Werner Henze / Nash Ensemble/2001