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Pianist

Simon Hester

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(5.0)Read all 7 reviews
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About Simon

Accompanist, soloist, composer and Jazz pianist. Many years experience providing outstanding music and as versatile as you can get.
Pianist
Harrow
Public liability insurance of £10 million
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Simon Hester’s career has covered a wide range of musical worlds, and his versatility is much admired in both classical and jazz repertoire. As both soloist and accompanist he has given recitals throughout Great Britain, appearing at the Bath, Edinburgh and Exeter festivals. He has played all over the the world with the highly successful show “All You Ever Wanted to Know about Opera” which featured his very own fusion of Wagner and Fats Waller. Simon performs frequently with the violinist Carmine Lauri, and has also worked with the distinguished violinist Maurice Hasson having appeared with him in recitals throughout Europe. Simon’s work for violin and piano “Dark Eyes Variations” was premiered recently in London as was his Piano Concerto. Other piano works are due for publication this year. Simon has a popular YouTube channel “The Lonely Pianist” which specialises in piano improvisation.

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Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
7th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 7 years
Musicianship
Genres:
Classical, Baroque, Classical crossover, Contemporary classical, Early music, Fanfare, Film / TV music, Medieval music, Musical theatre, Opera, Renaissance, Jazz, Blues, Cabaret, Dixieland, Gypsy jazz, Jazz fusion, Latin jazz, Modern jazz, Postmodern jukebox jazz, Ragtime, Swing, Barbershop, Gospel, 1920s era music, 1930s era music, 1940s era music, 1950s era music, 1960s era music, 1970s era music, 1980s era music, 1990s era music, Pop, Acoustic, Covers, Disco, Funk, Motown, R&B, Soul, Vintage
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Instruments:
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Event types:
Private event, Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Birthday party, Christmas party
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Other skills:
Arranger, Composer, Lyricist, Orchestrator, Songwriter, Transcription, Fluent sight-reader, Fluent improviser, Repetiteur, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching, Composition teaching, Accompanist
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Simon's Song list

(Below is just a small selection of the vast repertoire available)
A Fine Romance
Ain’t Misbehavin’
All Blues
And All that Jazz
Autumn Leaves
A Foggy Day
Ain’t That the Truth
All the Things You Are
Anthropology
Basin Street Blues
Beautiful Love
Beautiful Love
Bess You Is My Woman
Billie’s Bounce
Blue Bossa
Blue Monk
Bluesette
Body and Soul
Can’t Help Loving That Man
Chega De Saudade
Cry Me a River
Danny Boy
Easy to Love
Embraceable You
Fly Me to the Moon
Giant Steps
Have You Met Miss Jones
Hello Young Lovers
Here’s that Rainy Day
I Can’t Get Started
I Got Rhythm
I Wish I knew How it Feels to be Free
I Wish You Love
I Won’t Dance
I’ll be Around
I’ll Remember April
I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face
If I Ain’t Got You
If I were a Bell
Isn’t She Lovely
It Ain’t Necessarily So
It Might As Well Be Spring
It’s Only a Paper Moon
Joy Spring
Just in Time
Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off
Lullaby of Birdland
Manha De Carnaval
Misty
Mr PC
My Favourite Things
‘Round Midnight
Someday My Prince Will Come
Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most
Spring Time in Paris
Stardust
Take 5
Takin’ A Chance on Love
The Way You Look Tonight
The Lady is a Tramp
The Man I Love
The Shadow of Your Smile
The Surrey With the Fringe on Top
They Can’t Take that Away from me
Watermelon Man
Whisper Not
Yardbird Suite
Yesterday
You Don’t Know What Love Is
Simon
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5 out of 5
4 verified reviews

Simon's Reviews

From customers:

V
Vicky W
5 years ago, for a Concert in West Harrow Park
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5 out of 5

I'd like to thank Dan, Simon and Dan for their fantastic set for us for Summer Fun in the Park this year. Once again they played a great line up of jazz classics, with professionalism and panache. I know I can relax when they are playing, because the standard is always so high. Can't wait to book them again!

GR
Gillian R
6 years ago, for a Hotel / Restaurant event in London Rd
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5 out of 5

Simon was very easy to work with – and flexible on what the band could play. At very short notice they had to add some traditional bar mitzvah music to their repertoire, which they played very well. Also with almost no notice, Simon had to take over the role of MC during the later part of the evening, as our MC was slightly indisposed. He did that very well. The music was mainly dance music that most people could enjoy, either dancing or just listening to. We all loved it including my 20 year old nephew who is studying piano at Trinity. Guests were dancing the night away and the music really added to the joyous atmosphere. And the sound level was kept at a reasonable level, so those who did not want to dance, could still talk. We received lots of compliments on our choice of band. I definitely recommend them.

Read all 7 reviews