ArtistInfo

Simon McKechnie

Rock, Jazz and World

[Taken from http://www.reverbnation.com/] Hometown: London, UK Label: Voyager Records Sounds Like: King Crimson, RUSH, Yes (official) Genre: Rock Biography: Simon McKechnie is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who is based in London, UK. His latest record Clocks and Dark Clouds features seven new prog rock compositions. His 2011 release London Reborn is a collection of interpretations of beautiful old London Folk songs. The Telegraph saId of London Reborn, ‘The story-songs have freshness and humour about them which is very London.’ Simon has written for BBC television, classical ensembles The Society Of Strange And Ancient Instruments and Golden Section, and written arrangements for Roberto Pla's Latin Jazz Orchestra. He was the founder, leader and composer of the music for the jazz fusion group Azul. The Musician said of Azul’s album Beautiful People, ‘...it far outshines much of the output of the many hours of radio time dedicated to the smooth/dinner-jazz genre.’ Press: “This album is great, you just have to really listen. Long-windedness suddenly disappears and I can hear all those beautiful motifs and unusual musical elements, which are literally littered across the entire album. I recommend it to anyone who is not afraid of less digestible compositions and longer songs. After some time the final details that make Simon McKechnie’s music almost inimitable are exposed.” Kristyna - Progboard “McKechnie has composed a fine album that does remind me of some of those American prog bands that tried to do it the English way over the past twenty years. This is all McKechnie's work bar a handful of songs with lyrics by some rather famous gentleman. There's some tidy guitar work and interesting vocal quality where the man does it all on his own except for the drums supplied by a talented Adam Riley. Two or three plays and I was well in to this.” Martin Hudson - Rock Society “This disk is a large sample of progressive sounds rather modern in nature, where we can highlight the melodic "Gorham's Cave" full of cuts and changes of rhythm, a nice album opener in "Mother and Daughter" with experimental intro, rhythm changes and use of dissonance, or the intricate and changing "God Particle".” Gustavo Bolasini - El Retorno del Gigante “(Review of 'london Reborn') Yes this is a 21st century London folk music experience that I would thoroughly recommend if you like a touch of musical conventional meeting not as conventional.” Lisa Kalloo - Somojo Magazine “(Review of London Reborn) - The story-songs have a freshness and humour about them which is very London,” Martin Chilton - The Telegraph “(Review of London Reborn) There's a vast 'time-scape' feel to this album. Its span and dimension holds you entranced. It has sweeping vistas and changing places. It is street theatre. It is folk art for your ears. It is London.” Tim Carroll - FolkWords

Genres

• Rock
• Jazz
• World