Past Events
July 12, 2007 - Norman Simmons

Pianist Norman Simmons is a consummate musician, best known for his ability to connect with jazz singers like Carmen McRae, Anita O'Day, and Joe Williams.

On the evening of July 12th he connected with an audience of friends and admirers for the Harlem Speaks series. Simmons kept the audience of several dozen mesmerized for over three hours with tales that traced a life in the heart of jazz.

The audience discovered that he is much more than just an accompanist; Simmons is also an extremely accomplished soloist, arranger, composer and educator. Born in Chicago in 1929, Simmons' childhood was filled with the sound of the big band era in full bloom. In particular, he was captivated by Duke Ellington Orchestra broadcasts coming over a neighbor's radio.

He started teaching himself at the family piano, but recalls that his playing and foot-stomping to keep time weren't very well received by the downstairs neighbors. Undeterred, Simmons progressed quickly. At age 16, he enrolled in the Chicago School of Music, where he completed his studies in four years. He also studied with several private instructors, with whom he studied classical piano.

A motivated young musician, Simmons formed his own group in 1949 and began recording in 1952. His composition "Jan" was a hit for tenor saxophonist Paul Bascomb in 1953. Simmons kept a steady gig leading the house trio at Chicago's hottest jazz club, The Beehive, where his group would back touring greats like saxophonists Wardell Gray, Lester Young and Charlie Parker. Later, after leading a nonet at the C & C Lounge, Simmons began accompanying jazz singers in 1958 and quickly earned a reputation as an exceptional accompanist.

In 1960, Davis recommended Simmons to vocalist Carmen McRae, who had a reputation for being extremely demanding of accompanists. But the skilled and versatile pianist exceeded McRae's high expectations and they spent the next nine years performing and recording together.

In 1969, Simmons decided to pursue new musical avenues with other vocalists. With Betty Carter and Anita O'Day, he found greater freedom to improvise and his soloing prowess crystallized. In 1979, he began his long-standing collaboration with singer Joe Williams.

Williams and Simmons shared a simpatico that's in the league of Ornette Coleman and Don Cherry, Ella Fitzgerald and Tommy Flanagan, and Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. It can be heard throughout their music, especially on songs like "You Can Depend on Me."

Simmons' ability to challenge himself and other musicians carries over into his work as an educator. He began teaching at Paterson State College in New Jersey in 1982 and also participated in the Harlem-based Jazzmobile program for 20 years, fostering music education at New York's public schools. Simmons' dedication to his students is equal to his commitment to jazz itself.

Simmons insisted that he enjoys helping others excel, "I always get a lot of satisfaction knowing that I pushed someone up to the skies." No doubt, his contributions provide even greater satisfaction to jazz musicians, students and audiences everywhere."