Matt Simon is a major trumpet artist residing in Barcelona, Spain with numerous credits to his outstanding career in both Spain and the USA.
MATT’S EDUCATION INCLUDES:
Two years at the University of California at Santa Cruz. One year as an exchange student at the Central University in Barcelona, Spain followed by one year at the Berklee College of Music, with a full scholarship as well as a Bachelors degree in Jazz Music at the ESMuC.
He has studied with Kenny Haar, Joan LaRue, James Stamp, John Clyman-USA, Roger Jean-Marie, Orquestra Nacional de Francia, Rob Roy McGregor, L. A. Philharmonic Orch. Roger Voisen, Boston Symphony, Bobby Shew-USA, Jeff Stout and Greg Hopkins at Berklee College of Music.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
MATT has performed with many outstanding musicians including Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Guy Laffite, Al Cohn, Tete Montoliu, Jerry Lewis, Natalie Cole, Dianne Warwick, Dave Liebman, John Abercrombie (under the direction of Vince Mendoza), Louis Bellson, Frank Wess, Dennis Rowland (Count Basie´s singer for 7 years), Michel Camilo, Ibrahim Ferrer and the BUENAVISTA SOCIAL CLUB, Bart Van Lier, Jack McDuff, Lucrecia and Gato Pérez.
His extensive tour travels include a tour of Spain and south America with the show El gusto es nuestro with Ana Belén, Miguel Ríos, Víctor Manuel and Joan Manuel Serrat (1996-1997).
A Tour of Spain and South America with Ana Belén y Víctor Manuel (1997-1999).
Trumpet soloist with the Miguel Ríos Big Band Tour of Spain (1997-1999).
And Trumpet soloist in the Benidorm Pop Festival (1997).
The “Operación Triunfo” Tour of Spain and The “Rosa de España” tour of Spain in 2002. An extensive Tour of USA with Ibrahim Ferrer and The Buena Vista Social Club in 2003 along with a Live recording of CD y DVD with Ismael Serrano at the Teatro Lope de Vega, Madrid.
His major Recordings include artists: Javier Gurruchaga, La Trinca, Azúcar Moreno, J. M. Serrat, Los Toreros Muertos, Marcos Llunas, Paloma Berganza, Pedro Ruy Blas, Ana Belén, Miguel Ríos, Víctor Manuel, Lucrecia, Música Urbana, Lluís Llach, Moncho, Carlos Cano, Peret, Jarabe de Palo, Marina Rossell, Dyango, Juan Perro, Nina, Lolita, Estopa and Ismael Serrano.
MATT’S EXPERIENCE IN JAZZ HAS ALSO BEEN EXTENSIVE…as founder of the group Transatlantic, which won the “Best jazz group in Spain Award in 1989”, given by the TV show Jazz entre amigos, also winning the “Best jazz CD award”, given by the cultural department of the Catalonian government.
He was voted the best jazz trumpet soloist by his colleagues of the Jazz Musicians Association of Catalonia in 1993. He is the Founding member of funk group Princes of Time, recording 2 CD´s and played concerts and recorded 2 CD´s with Bebo Valdés.
He was also honored as Trumpet soloist for the prize ceremonies for jazz composition for the SGAE (1992, 1993, 1994 y 1996).
He was chosen to play in the 1st Tete Montoliu young jazz artist awards in 1999, performed next to Carles Benavent, Jorge Pardo, Chano Domínguez, Horacio Fumero, Peer Wyboris and Salvador Niebla.
He continues to perform with the Big-Band Terrassa and artists Michael Mossman, Slide Hampton, John Mosca, Dennis Rowland, Dick Oatts, Carmen Mundy, Judy Niemack, Bobby Shew and Ann Hampton.
HIS EXPERIENCE CLASSICAL MUSIC includes him as the founding member of the Orquesta de Cámara del Teatre Lliure. Twelve years and twelve CD´s on the market (Harmonía Mundi), under the direction of Josep Pons. He continues to perform and record with artists such as Victoria de los Angeles, Josep Carreras and Plácido Domingo.
He has collaborated with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and soloist with the Orchestra of Sant Cugat, including concerts of the Concerto for Piano y Trumpet by Shostakovich, The Trumpet Overture by Purcell, the Septet for Piano, Trumpet y String Quintet by Saint Sants and Pictures at an Exhibition.
His performances include the Tenerife Symphony, with Simon Estes and the Orquestra Nacional de Cámara de Andorra. He was also invited to perform the Concerto for trumpet, piano and string orchestra, by Dmitri Shostakovich in 2000.
Matthew Simon has recorded hundreds of radio and TV commercials, as well as many movie sound tracks with over 20 years of experience working on live television shows, as well as New Years’ specials and weekly TV shows.
HIS TEACHING EXPERIENCE includes numerous jazz schools in Barcelona since 1982 while creating his own jazz and improvision programs for children. He taught a Master Class during the jazz festival in San Sebastián and one at the jazz festival in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Currently he is professor of trumpet and improvisation in the jazz department at the Escuela Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC), or the Superior Music Conservatory of Catalonia, and in the LICEU SUPERIOR MUSIC CONSERVATORY in Barcelona. He also gives specialized jazz improvisation courses for trumpet players all over Spain.
Matthew Simon exclusively performs and endorses his custom Phaeton Trumpet model PHT-FX 1100 at all venues and events.
Mr. Simon may be contacted at email: trumpetsimon@hotmail.com