Christopher Simmons

Pianist, keyboardist, percussionist and composer Christopher Simmons started his music career in Orillia, ON, Canada. His father Herb Simmons, (1917 – 2005), was a jazz pianist and organist that played semi-professionally starting in the late 1930’s with several jazz bands around southern Ontario. Christopher’s influence from his father was evident, in that at the age of 8 he received his first of many drum sets. He first started playing professionally at the age of 14 and frequently performed with his father’s trio and jazz bands he was in for several years. Christopher was a percussionist in high school as well. After he graduated, he then enrolled as a drummer, in the advanced applied music program at Mohawk College in Hamilton, ON, where he eventually became the principal pianist in both the Mohawk College and McMaster University big bands. Like his father, it was very evident that Christopher had a natural talent on the piano. In his final year at college, he was hired as an assistant jazz piano instructor. After receiving his diploma in advanced applied music in 1987, Christopher performed the Toronto circuit for several years as a sideman in several groups, including being keyboardist with local Hamilton sensation and Juno award winning blues singer Harrison Kennedy. Christopher then went onto lead his own jazz fusion group, resulting in live and syndicated performances on Radio and National Television across Canada. He was then awarded Grants from the Canada Council for the Arts which enabled Christopher to study in with pianists Richie Beirach, Lynne Arriale and Jim McNeely; composer, arranger for the Grammy Award winning Vanguard Jazz Orchestra in New York City.

While in New York City, some of Christopher's performance highlights included; Musical Director/Pianist at the Centennial birthday tribute on April 29th, 1999, to the late great pianist/composer/band leader Duke Ellington (1899-1974); at the Triad off Broadway Theater. The sold out tribute featured New York City gospel/jazz vocalist Karl Dion Dixon, and several special guests including Duke’s only sibling; his younger sister, the late Ruth Ellington (1915-2004). While in New York City, Christopher also performed piano and keyboards at 55 Bar, CBGB's, Chicago Blues, Dan Lynch Blues Bar, Jazz Gallery, Knickerbocker Bar & Grill, Knitting Factory, Leisure Yacht Charters, Man Ray, National Arts Club, Nell's, New Music Café, Smalls Jazz Club, Sweet Basil, Visiones, Waldorf Astoria, and Zinc Bar. He also played keyboards with the Sunday Gospel house band at Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar; and had a solo piano house gig every Monday night for several years at the infamous Empire Diner.

Throughout Christopher’s career; he has performed and recorded with some of the most respected names in blues, gospel and jazz of our generation. Some of these talented musicians include; Harrison Kennedy, Karl Dion Dixon, Measha Brueggergosman, June Garber, Mandy Lagan, Shawn Cotterell, Donny McCaslin, Mike Filice, Robert Bonisolo, Ernie Tollar, Mike Sim, Matt Lagan, Kevin Turcotte, Bocle Brothers, Chris Wood, Jay Anderson, Artie Roth, George Koller, Rich Brown, Rufus Cappadocia, Mark McCarron, Ted Quinlan, Rob Piltch, Anthony Michelli, Gene Calderazzo, Kirk Driscoll, Paul DeLong, Jeff Hirshfield, Steve Davis, and Kevin Dempsey.

As a composer/pianist, Christopher's compositions capture and reveal several genres of music that is influenced by blues, classical, gospel, new age and jazz. The music maintains a noble stylistic consistency that provides a solid foundation for highly active interplay, heartfelt expression and creative dynamic improvisation. To date Christopher Simmons has released seven CD’s as a leader. His most recent CD “Know The Now”, features Artie Roth on Bass and Kevin Dempsey on drums and is all original material. He is releasing his eighth CD in 2020!

Now living in Toronto; Christopher Simmons teaches privately, and performs in various venues such as; Home Smith Bar, Gallery 345, and Jazz Bistro. He continues to be active performing in music festivals such as; TD Toronto Jazz Festival and Arts in the Parks Summer Concert Series. In 2017, a very special concert occurred at the Jazz Bistro in Toronto; when the Christopher Simmons quartet performed a tribute to the late great composer/pianist Thelonious Sphere Monk on October 10th, 2017; the Centennial of Thelonious Monk's birth. Christopher continues to perform at the finest jazz clubs in Toronto and abroad.

Awards

Canada Council for the Arts