Mark Simmonds (saxophonist)

Mark Simmonds is an Australian jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and leader of the group The Freeboppers. Born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1955, he moved to Sydney, Australia when he was 10 years old.^[1]

Career

Prominent throughout the 70's, 80’s and 90’s on the Australian jazz scene, Mark Simmonds also worked in many other musical settings such as soul, funk groups The Dynamic Hepnotics and Jackie Orszaczky’s ‘Jump Back Jack’, also contemporary music settings (Phil Treloar's ‘Feeling to Thought’, PipeLine, The Umbrellas) etc. A post-Coltrane saxophonist with a huge sound, Simmonds led his own groups mostly under the name of ‘The Freeboppers’ which held host to many of Australia’s most adventurous musicians.

Mark Simmonds' Freeboppers only released one full length CD entitled 'FIRE' (double CD, 1993, Birdland records)^[2] which won an Aria Award for best jazz album in 1995.^[3] However two tracks of an earlier version of the Freeboppers featured on the KMA (Keys Music Association) compilation LP from 1982 entitled 'March of the Five Limbs', as well as some tracks by other groups including Mark Simmonds.

Collaborators include Steve Elphick (bass), Phil Treloar (percussion), David Addes (alto sax), Jamie Fielding (keyboards), Greg Sheehan (drums), Miroslav Bukovsky (trumpet), Louis Burdett (drums), Peter Fine, Daniel Fine (sax), Steve Hunter (bass), Serge Ermoll (piano), Kees Steen (guitar), Rob Gador (bass), Michael Sheridan (guitar), Chris Abrahams (piano), Cleis Pierce (violin), Samila Sitote (percussion), Andrew Gander (drums), Thierry Fossemalle (bass), Scott Tinkler (trumpet), Simon Barker (drums), Azo Bell (guitar), Duncan Archibald (drums), Diane Peters (harp), Bobby Gebert (piano), Mark Shepherd (bass), Will Guthrie (drums), Scott Lambie (drums), Philip Rex (bass), Tony Buck (drums).

In an article from the Sydney Morning Herald, 13 May 1987, jazz critic Gail Brennan wrote: "Mark Simmond's Freeboppers devastated the Basement with an unbroken hour-and-a-half orgy of rhythm and fire." The article reviews a double-bill with the Dale Barlow Quintet at Sydney's most renowned jazz venue, The Basement, on 11 May 1987. It goes on to say Mark "led a band that had played in public for a month (at the Piccadilly) and their confidence and cohesion were glorious to hear" and concludes; "It is not often that a reviewer of Australian jazz has no choice but to gush. This was one of those nights."^[4]

According to Birdland.com.au, Mark "no longer performs or plays".^[2]

References

1. ^ Jazz - The Australian Accent by John Shand
2. ^ ^{a b} "Australian - Mark Simmonds Freeboppers - Fire - Birdland Records, 428 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia - Welcome to our Online Store". Birdland.com.au. http://www.birdland.com.au/catalogue/category634/p38349. Retrieved 2010-10-05. 
3. ^ Soap. "ARIA Awards 2010 : History: Winners by Year". Ariaawards.com.au. http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=1995. Retrieved 2010-10-05. 
4. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 13 May 1987

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