The first song John Simon wrote was for his Cub Scout den. Rich Syracuse won an award for doing well on his paper route. Jeff Siegel did his sister’s homework. Together, many years later, they constitute the piano, bass, drums trio “The Jazz”.
This Brunch performance will combine standards from The Jazz, stories from a life in-and-out-of-Rock-and-Roll and original songs.
John Simon/Piano
http://www.johnsimonmusic.net/
John Simon produced some of the biggest pop artists of the 60’s: The Band, Janis Joplin, Simon and Garfunkle, Leonard Cohen, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Mama Cass Elliott and jazz albums by Dave Sanborn, Michael Franks and Gil Evans. He composed music for high wire artist Phillip Petit and ballet scores for choreographer Twyla Tharp.
He delivered talks at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and The Montreal Pop Festival titled “My Life In Rock And Roll” or “Rock and Roll: It’s Origins and Consequences.”
At the urging of Paul Simon, in 1968 he began recording his own songs.
” … an eccentric, genial intelligence.” – Jon Pareles/The New York Times
“…an individuality all too rare in pop music today.” – TIME Magazine
“… a true original … must be heard to be believed.” – Stereophile Magazine
Poems to Eat:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyHjXr4Oe0U
Rich Syracuse/Bass
Rich Syracuse has toured worldwide and been a mainstay in the New York jazz scene for more than three decades. He began a long-standing position in the Nick Brignola Quartet, and has performed with Mose Allison, Kurt Elling, Dave Liebman, Brubeck Brothers, Sumi Tonoka, David Torn, Mike DeMicco, Peter Levin, Bernard Purdie, Jeff “Siege” Siegel, John Medeski, among others. For the past 22 years, Rich had been the bassist for the late and great pianist Lee Shaw, and is the Professor for String and Electric Bass Studies at Skidmore College in Saratoga NY, Hotchkiss School in Lakeville CT, and the Millbrook School in Millbrook NY.
Jeff “Siege” Siegel (Drums) http://www.jeffsiegeljazz.com/
Siege is a veteran of the New York Jazz Scene and has worked with a virtual “who’s who” of artists. He has performed/recorded with legends Ron Carter, Kenny Burrell, Jack DeJohnette, Benny Golson, Frank Foster, Sheila Jordan, Helen Merrill and Mose Allison, with the younger generation of musicians and the avant garde world as well, with Wadada Leo Smith, Baikida Carroll and others. He is co-leader of the Stevens, Siegel & Ferguson Trio, The New York Trio Project and The Jeff Marx/Jeff “Siege” Siegel Duo. Siegel has been described in Jazz World Magazine as a “brilliant drummer”, while lauded in Modern Drummer for his “forward energy and abundantly attractive ideas”.
