Simcock & Goloubev Duo Art

Reverie at Schloss Elmau

ACT 9624-2

German Release Date: January 17, 2014

It seems inevitable that the highly acclaimed, virtuosic Simcock says the opening track of the new CD,
pianist-composer Gwilym Simcock and multi-award winning ‘Pastoral’ is, “written with the beautiful surroundings of Elmau
double bassist-composer Yuri Goloubev would one day record very much in mind”. The spontaneous, ambient free-interplay
together in a duo once their paths had crossed. That moment between bass and piano that opens the piece is punctuated by
has come with the new recording Reverie at Schloss Elmau on Simcock’s deliciously mysterious theme, perhaps also a
the award-winning ACT label. dedication to his father’s great love for Russian classical music
especially Prokofiev and Stravinsky, something that rubbed off
One born in Wales, the other in Russia, most of Europe on him while growing up. But nineteenth century ‘romanticism’
stands between them. But in terms of their musical journeys, is the classical era that perhaps resonates the most with both
they appear to have been leading parallel lives. Both were musicians. This is apparent on Goloubev’s ‘Lost Romance’, as
classical music prodigies and have world-class techniques on well a piece sprinkled with Simcock’s artfully sophisticated jazz
their respective instruments. Both of them were set on a harmony.
lifelong career path in the concert hall, Goloubev the elder of
the pair at 41, was for twelve years the principal double bassist The interaction between bass and piano at the piece’s
for the Grammy-nominated Moscow Soloists, widely climax has the fluency and give-and-take of a deep
considered one of the most distinguished chamber ensembles conversation between close friends. ‘Antics’ is more for fun,
in the world. As a child Simcock achieved the highest music with its impishly dance-like rhythmic piano vamp, written by
exam grade for in the whole of the UK at just 11 years old. He Simcock, “to be performed on 50 battered old pianos around
studied piano, French horn and composition at Chetham's the streets and parks of London in summer 2012 and with two
School of Music, before going on to study jazz piano at dancers.” ‘A Joy Forever’ could be a song without words. The
London's Royal Academy of Music. Russian’s richly-hued, singing arco bass is backed by a simple
melancholic piano accompaniment by Simcock. Then
They first met in 2005 on a recording date with Klaus Goloubev switches to fingered bass as he does seamlessly
Gesing - Heartluggage (ATS 2006) and there was an instant throughout the recording; his playing here reminiscent of a
rapport between the pair of them. They then went on to record hero to both, the great Jaco Pastorious, especially the kind of
a trio album with asaf Sirkis - "SGS Group, Inc. presents" highly expressive, interweaving lines on the classic recordings
(2008) then on Yuri's album "Metafore Semplici" with Klaus, he made with Joni Mitchell. The album moves from an
Asaf and an Italian trumpet player Giovanni Falzone (Universal, instrumental version of singer-songwriter jazz-pop to its
2009) plus a couple of other less significant works. In 2008 classical equivalent: Goloubev’s ‘Non-Schumann Lied’ is a
Goloubev recorded with Simcock for his second piano trio CD reflection of his “love of German composers of the nineteenth
"Blues Vignette" (Basho 2009). Simcock has remarked on their century although,” he says, “this one should really have been
closeness, as to how they both have perfect pitch, “so when called ‘Non-Brahms Symphony’”.
the music is free, it’s easy to make instant music because we
both know what we’re playing at any one time. It’s easier to On ‘Flow’, Simcock’s galloping solo sees him merging
second guess what’s coming next. What I like about Yuri’s both languages of jazz and classical as if they have always
playing is it’s very linear. It comes from a strong melodic co-existed. The final track is the only non-original, ‘Reverie’
background and when he plays arco it’s this incredibly rich written by the nineteenth century Italian romantic composer
tenor sound.” and virtuoso double bassist Giovanni Bottesini. “ This one I
know from my student years, as it forms part of the ‘standard’
This is very much in evidence on Reverie at Schloss classical bass repertoire,” says Goloubev. “Here rather than
Elmau. Simcock has been before to the cultural retreat set in sticking to the original piano part, Gwilym follows the jazz
the Bavarian Alps, referred to in the album title. It was there charts that we derived from it.” It’s yet another example that
that in 2011 he recorded his solo debut Good Days in Schloss reveals the duo’s twin ambitions. That is to integrate the worlds
Elmau for ACT, for which he was nominated for the high profile of classical and jazz as they hear and feel them, then to filter it
Mercury Music Prize in the UK. into a freshly cohesive identity. On the exquisite duo recording
Reverie at Schoss Elmau, they have certainly reached a new
peak in that ambition.
Simcock & Goloubev Duo Art

Reverie at Schloss Elmau

ACT 9624-2
Photo by David Forman

01 Pastoral (G. Simcock) 8:13 Gwilym Simcock / piano

02 Lost Romance (Y. Goloubev) 7:01 Yuri Goloubev / bass
03 Shades Of Pleasure (G. Simcock) 7:03
04 Antics (G. Simcock) 4:06
05 A Joy Forever (G. Simcock) 6:12
06 Non-Schumann Lied (Y. Goloubev) 8:23
07 Flow (G. Simcock) 5:46
08 Vain Song (Y. Goloubev) 7:10
09 Reverie (G. Bottesini) 7:06

Produced by Siggi Loch with the artists

Recorded at Schloss Elmau by Adrian von Ripka, March 13, 2013

Mixed & mastered by Adrian von Ripka. Piano Tuner: Rudi Moser
Distributor:
Allegro-Nail Distribution (US)
A&N Music (GR)
Cover Art (Detail) by Philip Taaffe / ACT Art Collection Andante Music (RO)
Apostrophe (RU)
C&L Records (KR)
Divyd (SK)
Dukyan Meloman (BG)
Challenge Records Int. (Benelux)
More Duo Art on ACT: DC Comp (UA)
Various Artists „Creating Magic“ (2 CDs / ACT 6014-2) edelkultur (DE & AT)
Egea (I)
Philip Catherine & Martin Wind „New Folks“ (ACT 9621-2) Equinox Music (TR)
George Mraz & Emil Viklicky „Together Again“ (ACT 9622-2) GIGI Distribution (PL)
Gramofon (BA)
Gwilym Simcock on ACT: Harmonia Mundi (FR)
Harmonia Mundi (UK)
Solo: Good Days at Schloss Elmau (ACT 9501-2) Intek (SI+HR)
Simcock - Garland – Sirkis: Lighthouse (ACT 9525-2) Jassics (ZA)
Jazzworld (HK)
JSC "Bomba" (LT)
Karonte (ES & PT)
Musikklosen (NO)
Musikvertrieb (CH)
Naxos (SE/FI)
Outside Distribution (CA)
One-Hifi (RS)
Auenstraße 47, 80469 München, Germany Planet MGM Distribution (AU)
Southbound Records (NZ)
Phone +49 89 72 94 92 0, Fax +49 89 72 94 92 11
Sundance (DK)
e-mail: info@actmusic.com Videoarts Music Inc. (JP)
Visit our website at http://www.actmusic.com 2HP (CZ)