Simeon Abbott is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and improviser most active in Toronto's jazz, free improv and indie pop/rock communities. Although his work often features his prowess on the keyboards, he has also been exploring songwriting and the possibilities of the prepared guitar. Raised in a highly musical family, Simeon’s own personal interest and talent led him to musical training on the piano when he was 5 years old. He began performing publicly at the age of 6 and, while studying classically over the next ten years, received many awards and scholarships in local music festivals and competitions. Other genres of music such as pop, rock, and jazz led him to pursue music on the saxophone and the guitar as well.

After moving to Calgary at the age of 15, Simeon began to meet and play with musicians who introduced him to more advanced ideas in improvisation as well as avant-garde and electronic forms of music. He found the expressivity of the saxophone particularly intuitive while playing in a swing band in high school but soon reverted to his more cultivated talent at the piano.

Simeon decided to continue his studies and accepted a scholarship to attend the Mount Royal Conservatory in Calgary. It was during his 2 years there that he studied with Sheldon Zandboer, Bob Day, John Hyde, and Gary DeBoeck. Simeon and 3 other students were chosen to represent the Conservatory at an international academic fair in Guanajuato City, Mexico. They performed 4 concerts to capacity theatres and high schools around the region.

Now based in Toronto, Abbott completed a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies at Humber College under the tutelage of Brian Dickinson and Dave Restivo, as well as Pat LaBarbara, Don Thompson, and Kieran Overs. 2008 saw Abbott’s debut release as a leader, a compilation of his early jazz compositions called “A History of Ideas”.

Abbott is currently writing and performing original music with a number of Toronto based groups including Lamp Chops (guitar/guzheng duo with Colin Fisher), Chris Cawthray Trio (keys/drums +Glen Hall on saxophone), Cat Fur Omelette (Simeon’s compositions as a singer/guitarist), Simeon Abbott Trio/Quartet (original jazz compositions, various members), Stellar Waves (multi-instrumental, non-idiomatic duo with Aaron Leaney), and Danielle Duval Band.

Past collaborations: multiple recordings as a sideman and touring/collabs with The Postage Stamps (ambient art rock), John Tielli, Paul Linklater, Kurt Swinghammer, Chris Dadge, Jay Crocker, sundry jazz and free improv ensembles with many artists from Bug Incision Records and the Association of Improvising Musicians of Toronto (including the AIMT Orchestra).

RELEASES:

(2009) Lamp Chops - The Localization Of Noise And Its Endowment With Form (duo with Colin Fisher released on Bug Incision Records oct 24, 2009) http://www.bugincision.com

 (2009) Deep Sea Fossils (compilation containing improv sets with David Payne, Chris Dadge, & more released on DP's Middle James Co.) http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/middlejamesco/

(2009) Simeon Abbott - Zebra Wood (prepared electric guitar improvisations) - available on iTunes

(2008) Simeon Abbott - A History of Ideas (compilation of jazz trio/quartet recordings) - available on iTunes

(2007) Postage Stamps - This Ugly Arrangement (sold out)

(2007) Danielle Duval - Etranger - EP

(2004) Oliver Miguel - Esperanza

e-mail: simeon.abbott@gmail.com for info on how to buy physical copies