TICKETS
Reserved: $50, $40.
General Admission: $30 ($25 advance price until 10/1).
Doors open at 6:30pm for seating.
British jazz pianist/composer (and now Tampa Bay native), Simon Lasky, returns to The Palladium to present a brand new set of material and a new, streamlined lineup for his group. His new Quintet features leading players from the Tampa Bay jazz scene with James Suggs (trumpet), Jack Wilkins (saxophone), Alejandro Arenas (upright & electric bass), Jonathan Thomas (drums) and Simon (piano/keyboards/composer).
His 2024 album release (‘For The Dreamers’ by Simon Lasky Group) has been receiving accolades, rave reviews, and radio play across the U.S. and has been nominated for a 2024 Creative Loafing ‘Best of The Bay’ award in the ‘Best Jazz Release by a Local Band’ category. And the Simon Lasky Group have been nominated in the ‘Best Jazz Ensemble’ category. This is their only remaining Tampa Bay show this year – don’t miss it!
“Lasky’s music is atmospheric, melodic, airy, thoughtful and often influenced by the Pat Metheny Group without being too derivative.”
— Scott Yanow, Los Angeles Jazz Scene
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Inquisitive, provocative, blessed with the polished skill of balancing the musical idioms that have shaped his unique musical personality, British pianist Simon Lasky has been dazzling audiences on both sides of the Atlantic throughout his career. As a classically trained composer with a lifelong fascination with improvisation, Simon has forged his engaging signature sound from a love of 20th and 21st century symphonic music, the genius of bands like Steely Dan and Weather Report, and the venturesome nature of contemporary Jazz.
After winning the 2018 Ivors Composer Awards for his song ‘Close To Ecstasy,’ Simon moved from London to Tampa to study with five time GRAMMY nominated Jazz composer Chuck Owen at The University of South Florida. Since then Simon has thrived as an educator, lecturer, radio host and leader of the eight piece Simon Lasky Group. Relentlessly curious, Simon’s attention to detail, compositional sophistication, and intricate musicality, invites listeners to embrace his distinctive artistry that excites, enchants, and educates throughout every song, album and concert he brings to life.
Captivating arrangements exploiting the familiarity of popular music showcase Simon’s reputation for leveraging elaborate musical narratives that playfully guide audiences through the “back door” of Jazz. His latest album ‘For the Dreamers’ (Ubuntu Music) explores the concentric circles of treasured musical genres through a variety of whimsical compositions complimented by guest vocalist Ona K and the special chemistry of the Simon Lasky Group. In demand as a soloist, lecturer, clinician and sideman, Simon is currently an Adjunct Faculty Music Professor at the University of South Florida and Hillsborough Community College. His current working Jazz octets in England and Central Florida regularly sell out concert venues in London, Tampa, Orlando, Miami and St. Pete.
Presented by The Palladium at SPC.
