Join City Books on Saturday, January 14 from 7:00-8:30 pm
The Kyle Simpson Jazz Collective
Hear Kyle on trumpet, along with Paul Thompson on bass and Alex Ayers on keyboard. Kyle calls these guys his “dream team,” so you can be sure it is going to be a terrific night of jazz music. For a sneak preview, listen to “Allegheny Commons Stroll.”
Kyle Simpson, composer, trumpet player, and bandleader, is a graduate from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton, WI and The University of Montana in Missoula, MT. His composition teachers were Fred Sturm at Lawrence and Charles Nichols at The University of Montana. Simpson has written many works for large jazz groups, chamber jazz groups, solo trumpet, synthesized electronic music, Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble. His compositions have been featured at the Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival in Missoula, where he also performed with Lew Soloff and Paquito D’Rivera. Other compositions have been featured at the Fête de la Musique Ile d’Yeu, France(2011), Uzmah Upbeat Croatia (2014), Charlotte New Music Festival (2013), Ostrava Days Czech Republic (2011), and The Henry Mancini Institute(2006), Los Angeles. Simpson’s music has been described as, “lively with rhythmic vitality” and also, “lyrical with a brooding elegance.”
A former Northside resident, Simpson currently lives outside of Pittsburgh, PA where he is an Assistant Professor teaching instrumental music at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, PA. He is also presently in the DMA program in composition at West Virginia University studying with Dr. Joseph Dangerfield and Dr. Sarana Chou.
Check out Kyle’s website for more information.