Simon Moullier CWTC
What are your experiences of Jazz in NYC rather than elsewhere?
I have a deep love for the explosion of cultures and of motivation that each musician has here. It runs really deep and most that stick around do so because they really love being here and really want it. I love that about the city and it is such a beautiful place to grow within a community. I get inspired everyday whether it's an art gallery, movies, museums, shows, concerts, classical music - there is so much available all the time and it’s so exciting to be here at a time like this.
What were your earliest experiences of music growing up in France?
My earliest experiences were listening to music at home. My mom was listening to a lot of classical, jazz, blues and R&B. I was listening to that everyday and that is definitely my earliest introduction to music.
I started at the conservatory pretty early so heard a lot of classical music - jazz wasn’t really around that much. It was but not as much as one would expect. I played drums early on and that is when I started listening to more jazz.
When I was in middle school I applied for a music program meaning I was at the conservatory more than at school. At fourteen or fifteen I really started focusing on music. I wasn’t any good at anything else in school, I wasn’t the greatest student. Music was a lot of fun for me.
You recently finished a month-long residency at Cafe Bohemia, what were your experiences there?
I had a great time at Cafe Bohemia over the last month. It was a great experience for us to build consistency with a band and to be able to play some original music. It helped that I recorded every show so then I was able to listen back on what needed to be changed and what needed to be worked on. The writing and composing practice I received there is invaluable and to build a sound with musicians you get along with is rare.
What’s coming up? Album? Touring?
I am very excited to be releasing a new album “Isla” on February 17th. I can’t wait for it to be done but it is really exciting for me. Afterwards we have a second trio album coming out in October. It’s already recorded but in the box and I’m equally excited about that.
I’ll be touring in April in London, Paris and Germany.
What are you listening to this month?
To be honest sometimes I don’t listen to anything as I fall a little behind on that, but this month I am listening to a lot of classical orchestral music: Claus Ogerman, he’s a German arranger. Maurice Ravel too. Sonny Stitt and of course Coltrane. Oh and also a Brazilian singer named Djavan.
What are your experiences with Keyed Up! And how did you first hear about it?
KEYED UP! is a really key organization to the city at the moment and especially post pandemic. As artists we are incredibly grateful for what it has been doing for us, giving us opportunities to perform but also financial assistance. It has definitely given us a lot of hope. I started hearing about it during the pandemic and had played at Bar Bayeux. It is integral to the city and I am thankful for the help with Cafe Bohemia.