Basho Records was delighted to announce the long-awaited debut album from UK piano star Gwilym Simcock! This stunning album demonstrates Gwilym’s remarkable strengths as composer, his extraordinary abilities on the piano and showcases the two main ensembles he has developed with some of the UK’s finest musicians. Produced by Jason Yarde (twice Mercury nominated), and featuring the great saxophonist Stan Sulzmann, leading guitarist John Parricelli, and the outstanding rhythm section of bassist Phil Donkin, drummer Martin France, percussionist Ben Bryant, Perception was launched at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 16th November with Gwilym’s sextet playing support to jazz legend Charlie Haden on the opening night of the 2007 London Jazz Festival. A UK Tour followed.
At just 25 Gwilym was chosen as the first ever Jazz Musician to be part of BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists Scheme, a position he held for two years, and was voted Jazz Musician of the Year at the 2007 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.
As Mark Anthony Turnage says in the album notes: “This album has all the ingredients that signify the start of what has already promised to be a dazzling career”.
This album was produced in conjunction with BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists Scheme, supported by Aviva plc. Basho Records and Basho Music gratefully acknowledge the continued support of Yamaha pianos and the Arts Council of England.
Basho Records, 2007
Gwilym Simcock piano
Stan Sulzmann saxes
John Parricelli guitar
Phil Donkin double bass
Martin France drums
Ben Bryant percussion
Reviews
Mark Anthony Turnage
“This album has all the ingredients that signify the start of what has already promised to be a dazzling career.”
Stuart Nicholson/Jazzwise ****
“It was only a matter of time before Gwilym Simcock’s debut album arrived, but fewer albums by a UK musician have ever been as eagerly awaited as this…Simcock remains at the front and centre of this album, his easy virtuosity combining with an acute sense of melodic invention that compels attention.”
BBC Radio 3 Jazz Lineup
“knocked my socks off! – tremendous cohesion between all of the players”
Manchester Evening News
“This is immaculate, airborne jazz, and almost supernaturally beautiful.”
John Fordham/The Guardian ****
“If this is just the beginning, the coming years defy imagining”
Gary Booth/BBC Music Magazine *****
“Simcock has made the complete album: but Perception doesn’t sound like a demo or a showcase. It is more like a superb statement of intent.”