SIMON
SPIESS
SAXOPHONIST
COMPOSER
ABOUT
Simon Spiess is a composer, sound re/searcher, and sonic architect. Although mostly known for his warm, soulful, transcendent sound on woodwinds (alto & tenor sax mainly; bass clarinet & flute), the man is also a beast when it comes to sound design. He’s quick to admit that he crafts beauty from a deep addictive streak: vintage woodwinds, modular synths, tattoos, and sharp clothes for days. “You either have something to say or you don’t. The medium you choose to express yourself in is arbitrary. But you have to learn to get out of the way.” If he’s not practicing blowing or meticulously chiselling sound, you’ll probably find him indulging in some intense mindfulness exercise. His music covers a wide range of raw emotion, from the soothing to the unsettling. Presence, connection, and honouring the full spectrum of the human experience are a through line. That, and the stark, clashing contrasts (black and white, sometimes misty, metallic grey) punctuated by unexpected turns of screaming pink! In the last 12 years, Spiess dropped 15 releases! He played shows all over continental Europe, parts of Asia, Africa, and the US. He is one of the co-founders of the collective 50 Million Years.
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QUOTES
„With a beautiful set of original tunes, Simon Spiess, Bänz Oester and Jonas Ruther keep expanding the boundaries of the sax-, bass- & drums-trio. Imagination lyricism and beauty of sound are overflowing in each one of this gems. Get ready for a really fun and inspiring listening session!“
- Jorge Rossi
"Grösstes Hörvergnügen garantiert die neuste CD des Simon Spiess Trios: Die rundum gelungene Produktion besticht durch stimmungsvolle Kompositionen und eine bestens eingespielte Band. Die Drei grooven, was das Zeug hält, überzeugen aber zur Abwechslung auch als Klangmaler, so dass während der 50 Minuten Musik nie auch nur ein Hauch von Langeweile aufkommt."
- Domenic Landolf
“Simon’s personal sound pushes the music into an interesting place!”
- Óskar Guðjónsson
"Stardane is a well thought out eclectic CD; featuring sensitive group interplay, lyrical improvisations, and a vast array of styles and influences. Supported by a superb band, saxophonist Simon Spiess delivers a patient and commanding performance with a lush sound; whether on tenor or alto."
- Greg Tardy
"Stardance brings the listener an evocative and lyrical, rhythmically engaging collection of sound stories. The Simon Spiess trio are all players with nimble, skilled touch on their instruments who deliver a tasteful and convincing performance. The music here has an energetic often hypnotic atmosphere, quiet and graceful one moment, fiery and challenging the next. The improvisations are adventurous and the grooves are dynamic. A wide sonic palette, a nice mix of textures along with the great sound each person gets on the instrument makes Stardance a real pleasure to hear."
- Chris Cheek
"The Simon Spiess Trio invites the listener in with strong melodies, carefully attended by bandleader. One is met with a clear feeling of dedication and attention to every detail as the trio floats on a lively grid of the dusty sounding rythmsection. A beautiful broad sounding album that shows great promise for the future of this young Swiss/German trio."
- Mikkel Ploug
„Simon Spiess ist ein wahres Saxophonwunder. Er hat einen grossen Sound und eine absolut fesselnde erzählerische Gestaltungskraft, wie sie auch ein Dewey Redman besass. Dies ist heutzutage eine Seltenheit und damit wird er zu einer der wichtigen Figuren, welche die Essenz des Jazz in seiner ganzen Tiefe hörbar machen.“
- Harald Haerter
"Round 4! is a beautiful, lyrical recording from Simon Speiss Trio. Simon has an abundance of emotional depth in his playing and has presented a compelling collection of songs that highlight his lyricism and expression. A wonderful record."
- Donny McCaslin
CONCERTS
18.01.25 // Quiet Tree // AMR, Genf
19.01.25 // Quiet Tree // Amboss & Steigbügel, St. Gallen
27.01.25 // Pedro Lenz & Simon Spiess // sogar theater, Zürich
31.01.25 // Quiet Tree // Zollyphon
14.02.25 // Simon Spiess Helio // 8570 Jazzclub Weinfelden
16.02.25 // Late Bloøm & Hainbach // Kiff Aarau
18.02.25 // Simon Spiess Helio // Jazzini Marburg DE
19.02.25 // Simon Spiess Helio // Jazzclub Hirsch Moosburg DE
20.02.25 // Simon Spiess Quartet // BeJazz, Bern
21.02.25 // Late Bloøm & Hainbach // Moods Zürich
24.02.25 // Simon Spiess Quartet // Jazz in Baden
27.02.25 // Simon Spiess Helio // Moods Zürich
03.03.25 // Simon Spiess Helio // Jazzcampus Basel
05.03.25 // Simon Spiess Helio // ClasiJazz, Almeria Spain
06.03.25 // Simon Spiess Helio // Soberao Jazz, Dos Hermanos Spain
07.03.25 // Simon Spiess Helio // Asse Jazz, Sevilla Spain
08.03.25 // Simon Spiess Helio // Clarence Jazzclub, Malaga Spain
09.03.25 // Simon Spiess Helio // Granada Spain
15.03.25 // Pedro Lenz & Simon Spiess // Aesch ZH
24.03.25 // Pedro Lenz & Simon Spiess // sogar theater, Zürich
27.03.25 // Flavian Graber Trio // Eisenwerk, Frauenfeld
28.03.25 // Pedro Lenz & Simon Spiess // Zopfhuus, Staufen
04.04.25 // Pedro Lenz & Simon Spiess // Steinlichäller, Möhlin
24.04.25 // Quiet Tree // Coffeehouse Session, Olten
03.05.25 // Flavian Graber Trio // Liestal
04.05.25 // Flavian Graber Trio // Liestal
15.05.25 // Pedro Lenz & Simon Spiess // Kulturgemeinschaft, Uster
16.05.25 // Elfton Ensemle // the bird’s eye jazz club, Basel
17.05.25 // Elfton Ensemle // the bird’s eye jazz club, Basel
23.10.25 // Simon Spiess Helio // Kulturcafé Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg DE
24.10.25 // Simon Spiess Helio // Jazzclub Bamberg, DE
25.10.25 // Simon Spiess Helio // Jazzclub Nordhausen, DE
26.10.25 // Simon Spiess Helio //Dumont Aachen, DE
Thanks to Pro Helvetia Schweizer Kulturstiftung, Fondation Suisa, Kuratorium Solothurn & Schweizerische Interpretenstiftung SIS for financial support!
VIDEOS
Simon Spiess Quiet Tree live at Moods ZürichSimon Spiess Quiet Tree “Indulge In Fancy & Grieving Was Yesterday”
Late Bloøm live at Moods Zürich Simon Spiess Quartet live at Tis Jazz Simon Spiess Helio live at Classijazz Almeria Late Bloøm live at Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst Late Bloøm “Berlin Session”Simon Spiess Quiet Tree “Light Light Light”
Simon Spiess Quiet Tree “bleu foncé”
Flavian Graber “Atlantik”
Late Bloøm “S-4, Piano, Nagra S IV”
Simon Spiess Quiet Tree “Neu!”
Simon Spiess Quiet Tree “Eraser”
TRÆ "Holding It Together"
Kaos Protokoll "New Chapter"
Simon Spiess Trio "Adhan & Yggdrasil" MORE VIDEOS ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL