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Geoff Simkins
Geoff has been playing jazz since his early teens originally as a
drummer but quickly switching to Alto Saxophone. As a professional
musician since 1977, he has played at concerts, clubs and festivals in
all parts of the U.K. and has worked abroad extensively in Europe,
Scandinavia, West Africa, Bahrein, Dubai, and the Far East.
Recordings include albums with his own quartet, two L.P's with Danny
Moss (which were voted among the top records of the year by Jazz
Journal), albums with Billy Butterfield and Yank Lawson, and most
recently with Dave Cliff including the much praised C.D's 'The music of
Tadd Dameron' released in 1997 and the marvellous duo and quartet
recording of the previous year - 'Sipping at Bells '. Geoff has
appeared many times on B.B.C. Radio's Jazz Club and Jazz Parade and was
the subject of a television documentary made by T.V.S.
Geoff leads his own quartet featuring Nikki Iles, Simon Woolf and Martin France, works as
often as possible with Dave Cliff in a variety of settings from duo to
quintet, and is increasingly in demand as a guest at jazz clubs and
festivals throughout the U.K. He often works with American musicians
who are visiting this country and over the years has played with such
luminaries as Art Farmer, Bobby Shew, Al Cohn, Tal Farlow, Slide
Hampton, Warren Vache, Al Grey, Kenny Davern, Bill Berry, Al Casey,
Howard Alden, Ruby Braff, Bill Coleman and Conte Candoli.
Geoff is a respected teacher and as well as running a very successful
improvisation course at Sussex University, he is a regular tutor at the
famous Glamorgan Summer School. In 1994 he was invited to be a tutor at
the Czech Jazz Summer School and appeared at clubs in Prague and on
Czech Television. Geoff has also been involved in many of the Jazz In
Education projects which have brought live music to schools throughout
the South and Midlands.
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