Gwilym Simcock Trio plays Jaco Pastorius!

Sponsored by Prof. Brian Williams

Brilliant pianist Gwilym Simcock leads this tribute to the works associated with the short-lived but highly influential American bassist Jaco Pastorius. Featuring the incredible electric bass of Laurence Cottle and the percussion and drums of rising star Josh Savage!

Gwilym Simcock is one of the most gifted pianists and imaginative composers on the European scene. He moves effortlessly between jazz and classical music, with a 'harmonic sophistication and subtle dovetailing of musical traditions'. Gwilym has been hailed as a pianist of 'exceptional', 'brilliant' and 'dazzling' ability, and his music has been widely acclaimed as 'engaging, exciting, often unexpected, melodically enthralling, complex yet hugely accessible', and above all 'wonderfully optimistic'.

Writing in the Guardian, John Fordham summed it up:  ‘Much of Pastorius's music has been interpreted by big ensembles and by Weather Report, but Simcock achieved considerable breadth with just the trio. Simcock's ingenious arrangements allowed the piano not only to evoke the textures of bigger lineups on tunes such as the Joni Mitchell/Pastorius collaboration Jericho, Liberty City, Young and Fine, Elegant People (from Weather Report's Black Market album) Young and Fine, Bright Size Life (from the 1975 Pat Metheny debut album that also revealed Pastorius to a wider world). Simcock's account of Mitchell's Jericho almost stole the set, however, in its softly rocking melancholy, poignant harmonies and patiently spacey basslines. The gig cherished Pastorius's lyricism, when many celebrations of him concentrate on virtuosic hyper-funk’.

Laurence Cottle's musical journey began at a young age when he took piano lessons before moving onto trombone and finally settling on bass guitar. His career spans over four decades and encompasses a wide range of musical genres, including jazz, rock, funk, and pop. He has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Eric Clapton, Seal, Alan Parsons, Black Sabbath, Brian Eno, and Van Morrison. Laurence's dynamic bass playing has graced countless recordings, earning him recognition and acclaim from fellow musicians and audiences alike. He has also composed and arranged music for film, television, and advertising. Whether performing on stage, composing for the screen, or collaborating with other artists, Laurence continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world with his talent and creativity.

Josh Savage is a Manchester-based drummer and percussionist working across jazz, theatre, and session work. Since graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music, he has built a career performing in jazz clubs, touring theatre productions, and studio sessions. When not in the recording studio, Josh plays regularly across the UK's live music circuit, bringing experience from both intimate trio settings and large-scale productions. His most recent work includes co-leading Trio SKW (organ trio) and co-directing his music production company A&J Bespoke Music.

Description supplied by the event organiser.