Rick Simpson

As a Jazz Pianist:

Rick performs regularly in London playing a wide variety of music, and leads his own group playing original jazz music. Rick has performed at the 606 Jazz Club, the Vortex Jazz Club, The Bull’s Head Jazz Club, Charlie Wrights Jazz Club and other larger venues such as the Royal Festival Hall and the Purcell Room. In 2008 Rick won a Yamaha Scholarship Prize for Outstanding Jazz Musicians. A recording of Rick’s band was put on the front cover of Jazzwise Magazine.
During his time in London, he has had the fortune to perform and study with musicians such as John Pattituci, Rufus Reid, Martin Speake, Stan Sulzmann, Jeff Williams and Steve Waterman as well as younger musicians in London such as Paul Booth, Phil Donkin, James Maddren, Zhenya Strigalev and Mark Hanslip. He has also performed at Ronnie Scotts with actor Kevin Spacey.

As a piano teacher:

I am a classically trained pianist specializing in Jazz Piano. I have performance experience both in the UK and abroad, with various ensembles, from jazz groups to concert orchestra. I have also had much experience as a teacher as I regularly teach on many summer school and weekend courses over the country.

Working for the Mehr Clef Jazz Agency (www.mehrclef.com) has brought me into contact with students of all ages, working either individually or in groups. I also teach classical piano at Hockerill Anglo-European College which is a specialist music college. During this time I have been in contact with students from ages 12-18 and have seen students through graded exams.