Brian Simpson

Discovers All That Matters

By Ken Capobianco Pianist-composer Brian Simpson has been making music for four decades and established himself as a wonderful jazz songwriter. His keen melodic ear has sustained him through 10 solo albums and made him a staple on the smooth jazz touring circuit.

He’s had this success after a rewarding stint in the pop world that yielded his first No. 1 pop single as the co-writer of Surface’s 1991 hit, “The First Time.” And, he has extensive tours as a sideman for such artists as Janet Jackson and the late Teena Marie. Last year, Simpson released the inspired and supremely melodic All That Matters in the middle of the pandemic. It was the perfect album for troubled times—spirited, soulful and deeply felt. Music to help listeners transcend grim reality or transport them to a colorful, imaginary world of melody and love. “Every time I start out on a new record, I’m aiming to make music that touches people through melodies and rhythms that reaches something within them,” Simpson said recently via phone at an airport while waiting for a flight to his next gig in Orlando, Florida. “Part of that record was a reaction to what was going on in the world—I wrote it during the lockdown— and it’s a bit of a celebration of life.” He explained that the apt title was the last thing he came up with for the album because it summed up what he thought about while the world was in distress. “I didn’t conceive the record to become that, but several of my friends got sick, some died, and have died since then. Seeing that, and what was happening around the world, was a lot to take in. “Without getting philosophical, I did want to create something people could find comfort in. I’m always going for that, but never more so than on this record. I think a lot of people understood how important family is––that’s one of the things I got out of that time. I really appreciated having a healthy family and friends.” Simpson is a consummate craftsman of melodies, which are the foundation of the songs on All That Matters. He effortlessly moves from fleet R&B to soulful grooves to complex yet accessible jazz to breezy, romantic songs over the course of 10 songs. The 60-year-old Illinois native said he works hard to keep his songwriting chops in top form and craft the finest melodies. “To be a professional musician requires some innate ability, and then lots of practice, and the same goes for being a songwriter. It’s like a tool you have to sharpen. “With each record, I work on them for over a year. Melody writing happens within a short time, but if I take time off between a project, say, three months to go on the road, I find when I get back, I have to work to return to where I was. It’s like working out and strengthening a muscle.” It’s been 27 years since he released his debut solo record, Closer Still, after working steadily as a go-to sideman for a number of prominent jazz and pop artists. One of his goals has been to avoid repeating himself as a songwriter on the follow-ups to his first album. Many artists end

up recycling ideas, especially after they have success. Although he found himself falling into that trap at times, Simpson made a creative course of redirection to get back on the right path. “My first album came out in 1995—you have your whole life to lead up to that first album. I thought it was quite original at the time,” he said. “And then I had 10 years of no albums. Fast forward to 2005, and it was kind of like starting over again. I got a deal with Dave Koz’s label [Rendezvous], and I thought that was a very original record for me [It’s All Good]. “I had a hit song with ‘It’s All Good,’ and I was thinking, ‘Well, people liked that so maybe I should do something like it again.’ By my fourth record, I felt like I was going back to the well again. That’s when I started collaborating with others, which was a huge help to keep me from sounding derivative.” The pianist has a heavy schedule of touring this year with a string of club dates, festivals and cruises booked throughout the summer and into the fall. He’s set for the Dave Koz & Friends at Sea cruise sailing from Amsterdam to the British Isles in May, and the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival in June, along with other major events. As airport patrons buzzed around him in the background, Simpson explained that he’s extremely happy to be a road warrior once again after the pandemic lull kept him homebound. “After a few years off, it was difficult to get excited about going to an airport— I thought about settling into early retirement,” he laughed. “Once I got into the swing of it again, it was great. I just finished a show in Atlanta. It was palpable that the audience was so happy to be out and not wearing masks. They had a blast—I had a fantastic time, too. “I love playing jazz clubs with an intimate crowd, where people can enjoy the subtleties of the music, but I enjoy playing festivals because you reach so many more people—it’s a fun time for everyone.” The Los Angeles resident spent many years as Koz’s music director, and he feels that period and his other experiences with superstar jazz musicians have made him a better composer and performer. “Before I worked with Dave, I spent 10 years with George Duke and Stanley Clarke, who are completely different types of entertainers. “Every one of them is fantastic, and while those are the main stars, there are 50 other artists I can name. I drew something from everybody. I take in ideas for shows and songs. I still have a wonderful relationship with Dave––he’s such a great guy––as was George.” Simpson’s career has taken him from his R&B-jazz beginnings as a young man to the pop-R&B world to contemporary jazz, but he feels there’s been a common denominator to the many facets of his career and all the music he’s created. “You can call my music now smooth jazz or contemporary jazz, but the bottom foundational drums and bass aspects are pretty much R&B, and that’s all I’ve ever done,” he said. “Once I got out of college, I moved to Los Angeles and got my first tour with Teena Marie. My roots are still there. “I did a tour with Janet Jackson, which was an unbelievable experience and so much fun—I was playing in front of thousands of fans who were screaming louder than the band played. Ultimately, it all bleeds together. I could easily go back into that kind of R&B music without hesitation. It’s just part of who I am.” While All That Matters was born out of extensive writing and recording during the pandemic lockdown, Simpson had enough time on his hands to learn some new skills and catch up with home life necessities most musicians who spend months on the road ignore. “For someone like me, it was a tough transition, but I did a lot of work on my house, and learned a lot about wood and repair—wood hardeners, epoxies, fillers. “I enjoyed the manual labor and got into cooking for the first time in my life. I’m someone who cooked nothing before––grill a hamburger and make spaghetti, that was the extent. I started cooking three times a week, and got into preparing sauces for meats and doing things I’d never done before. It’s amazing what you can learn if you have the time.” The busy artist has a new record in the works, and he’s excited to deliver it to the world. “I’m well into my new record. I’m planning on turning it in June for release later this year. No reason to wait. I have no idea how long I’m going to live,” he said with a hint of humor. “Honestly, none of us know, so what am I waiting for? I have to live and create now. It’s one of the things we learned from the last few years if we didn’t realize it already.” For more information on Simpson, including his complete tour schedule, visit https://bsimpsonmusic.com.

May 6 Jazz on the Vine ON TOUR

The Osthoff Resort Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin https://osthoff.com/jazz-on-the-vine/

May 13-27 Dave Koz & Friends at Sea

Aboard Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas Amsterdam and The British Isles www.davekozcruise.com

June 12 San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival

Rady Shell at Jacobs Park Embarcadero Marina Park South San Diego, California www.sandiegosmoothjazzfestival.com

Aug. 21 Rhythm on the Vine Concert Series

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa Temecula, California www.southcoastwinery.com/concerts

Sept. 3 Cincinnati International Jazz Festival

Smale Riverfront Park Cincinnati, Ohio www.rainbowpromotions.com

Sept. 11 Dauphin County Jazz & Wine Festival

Fort Hunter Park Harrisburg, Pennsylvania www.dauphincounty.org