Episode 24. Simon Wallace (Piano) - 'Autumn Leaves'

Geoff travels to Honor Oak Park in South London to meet with an old friend – the British composer and pianist Simon Wallace. 

Simon opens a portal into jazz's rich tapestry through personal stories that span from his childhood in South Wales to the vibrant scenes of New York City and London. This conversation reveals how a secondary school music teacher sparked what he beautifully describes as discovering “…a magic window into another world" – specifically the world of Black American culture centred in New York.

Simon takes us on a fascinating journey through his musical development, from studying classical music at Oxford University while secretly yearning for jazz, to landing his first professional gig at London's legendary Blitz Club in 1978 where Boy George worked in the cloakroom during the New Romantic era. His connections to jazz history come alive through stories of friendships with figures like Bob Dorough, who recorded with Miles Davis and performed with Charlie Parker.

The heart of the episode delivers a masterclass in jazz harmony as he unpacks the revolutionary theories of piano legend Barry Harris. With remarkable clarity, he explains how Harris's approach to diminished scales and sixth chords creates pathways between multiple keys, freeing musicians from predictable patterns. This isn't just technical talk – Simon demonstrates these concepts improvising the 1940s standard ‘Autumn Leaves’ alongside the Quartet jazz playalong app, showing how theory transforms into living, breathing music.

Beyond music theory, he shares captivating stories including writing a symphony for the King of Thailand's 60th birthday broadcast on all four Thai TV channels simultaneously. His reflections on musical growth, the value of being "slightly out of your depth," and jazz's competitive yet supportive culture offer wisdom for musicians at any stage.

Whether you're a jazz aficionado, a musician seeking fresh approaches to harmony, or simply someone who appreciates a good story well told, this episode offers rich rewards. Listen now and discover how jazz continues to open magical windows into other worlds.

Presenter: Geoff Gascoyne
Series Producer: Paul Sissons
Production Manager: Martin Sissons
The Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.