Norman Simmons • The Art Of Norman Simmons

 

Biography by Ron Wynn
Pianist Norman Simmons is a superior arranger and good accompanist most famous for providing the hit arrangement of "Wade in the Water" for the Ramsey Lewis group. Simmons worked in the '50s and '60s for several vocalists, among them Dakota Staton, Ernestine Anderson, and Carmen McRae. He worked in 1960 with the Johnny Griffin-Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis group. In 1979 Simmons became a regular pianist for Joe Williams, performing with the acclaimed vocalist through the 1990s. Following Williams' death in 1999, Simmons led his first session in quite some time, resulting in the 2000 Savant release Art of Norman Simmons. In 2002 he issued Synthesis, his second effort for Savant. In Private, a Savant date also featuring bassist Lisle Atkinson and drummer Paul Humphrey, arrived in 2004.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/norman-simmons-mn0000884894/biography

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Biografía de Ron Wynn
El pianista Norman Simmons es un excelente arreglista y buen acompañante, famoso por haber realizado el exitoso arreglo de "Wade in the Water" para el grupo de Ramsey Lewis. Simmons trabajó en los años 50 y 60 para varios vocalistas, entre ellos Dakota Staton, Ernestine Anderson y Carmen McRae. Trabajó en 1960 con el grupo de Johnny Griffin-Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. En 1979 Simmons se convirtió en un pianista habitual de Joe Williams, actuando con el aclamado vocalista hasta la década de 1990. Tras la muerte de Williams en 1999, Simmons dirigió su primera sesión en bastante tiempo, lo que dio lugar al lanzamiento de Savant Art of Norman Simmons en el año 2000. En 2002 publicó "Synthesis", su segundo trabajo para Savant. En Private, una cita de Savant también con la bajista Lisle Atkinson y el baterista Paul Humphrey, llegó en 2004.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/norman-simmons-mn0000884894/biography

Norman Simmons  ...

 

Norman Simmons • Synthesis

 

Review
by Ken Dryden
Norman Simmons is known for his terrific piano playing, backing singers like Joe Williams and Carmen McRae, but he has recorded sporadically as a leader. This 2002 studio session for Savant is a long overdue chapter in Simmons' golden years, showcasing his talent as a composer and arranger as well. With rising tenor sax star Eric Alexander, and seasoned guitarist Henry Johnson among his supporting musicians, Simmons' playful reworking of "Sweet Georgia Brown" (titled "Georgia's in Town"), and his brisk "Winter's Gone" are excellent vehicles for blowing. His brief trio chart of the Beatles' "Here, There and Everywhere" segues into an imaginative funky arrangement of "Eleanor Rigby," a piece that can be dreadfully dull in the wrong hands. Also not to be missed are a trio of works written by Billy Strayhorn, including an extended workout of the normally brief "Lush Life," "A Flower is A Lovesome Thing" (which incorporates an infectious bluesy vamp), and finally, a gently swinging "Something to Live For," which showcases Lisle Atkinson's tasty walking bass. Hopefully this excellent date will induce a follow up recording session.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/synthesis-mw0000661360

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Reseña
por Ken Dryden
Norman Simmons es conocido por su magnífico piano, acompañando a cantantes como Joe Williams y Carmen McRae, pero ha grabado esporádicamente como líder. Esta sesión de estudio de 2002 para Savant es un capítulo largamente esperado en los años dorados de Simmons, mostrando su talento como compositor y arreglista también. Con la estrella emergente del saxo tenor, Eric Alexander, y el experimentado guitarrista Henry Johnson entre sus músicos de apoyo, la juguetona reelaboración de Simmons de "Sweet Georgia Brown" (titulada "Georgia's in Town"), y su enérgica "Winter's Gone" son excelentes vehículos para soplar. Su breve tabla en trío de "Here, There and Everywhere" de los Beatles da paso a un imaginativo arreglo funky de "Eleanor Rigby", una pieza que puede ser terriblemente aburrida en las manos equivocadas. Tampoco hay que perderse un trío de obras escritas por Billy Strayhorn, incluyendo un extenso ejercicio de la normalmente breve "Lush Life", "A Flower is A Lovesome Thing" (que incorpora un infeccioso vampiro de blues), y finalmente, un suave balanceo de "Something to Live For", que muestra el sabroso walking bass de Lisle Atkinson. Esperemos que esta excelente fecha induzca una sesión de grabación posterior.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/synthesis-mw0000661360

Norman Simmons • Norman Simmons Trio

 

 

Biography by Ron Wynn
Pianist Norman Simmons is a superior arranger and good accompanist most famous for providing the hit arrangement of "Wade in the Water" for the Ramsey Lewis group. Simmons worked in the '50s and '60s for several vocalists, among them Dakota Staton, Ernestine Anderson, and Carmen McRae. He worked in 1960 with the Johnny Griffin-Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis group. In 1979 Simmons became a regular pianist for Joe Williams, performing with the acclaimed vocalist through the 1990s. Following Williams' death in 1999, Simmons led his first session in quite some time, resulting in the 2000 Savant release Art of Norman Simmons. In 2002 he issued Synthesis, his second effort for Savant. In Private, a Savant date also featuring bassist Lisle Atkinson and drummer Paul Humphrey, arrived in 2004.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/norman-simmons-mn0000884894/biography

///////

Biografía de Ron Wynn
El pianista Norman Simmons es un excelente arreglista y buen acompañante, famoso por haber realizado el exitoso arreglo de "Wade in the Water" para el grupo de Ramsey Lewis. Simmons trabajó en los años 50 y 60 para varios vocalistas, entre ellos Dakota Staton, Ernestine Anderson y Carmen McRae. Trabajó en 1960 con el grupo de Johnny Griffin-Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. En 1979 Simmons se convirtió en un pianista habitual de Joe Williams, actuando con el aclamado vocalista hasta la década de 1990. Tras la muerte de Williams en 1999, Simmons dirigió su primera sesión en bastante tiempo, lo que dio lugar al lanzamiento de Savant Art of Norman Simmons en el año 2000. En 2002 publicó "Synthesis", su segundo trabajo para Savant. En Private, una cita de Savant también con la bajista Lisle Atkinson y el baterista Paul Humphrey, llegó en 2004.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/norman-simmons-mn0000884894/biography

 

 

Norman Simmons  ...