In this conversation, Andy and Jonathan chat with Gwilym Simcock, one of the world's most gifted pianists and imaginative composers. Gwilym moves effortlessly between jazz and classical music, with a ‘harmonic sophistication and subtle dovetailing of musical traditions’. His influences are wide ranging, from jazz legends including Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny, to classical composers including Maurice Ravel, Henri Dutilleux, Béla Bartók and Mark-Anthony Turnage. Although principally a jazz artist, Gwilym has composed numerous works for larger classical ensembles that combine through-composed elements with improvisation, creating a sound that is distinctive and very much his own.

Gwilym shares many insights from his childhood and formative years in this conversation. This centred around his time at Chethams and the Royal Academy of Music. Key teachers and their influences on him are celebrated. We also chat about compositional processes and how they are informed by and incorporated into improvisatory practice.

Music Learning Conversation is hosted by Jonathan Savage and Andy Scott, and is a UCAN Play podcast.

Produced by Josh Savage

Title Music - JellyBaby
Written and Performed by Dave Hassell & Andy Scott
Remix by Stan Scott
Voice over Sam Marsden
Mixed & Produced by Paul Dormer