GWILYM SIMCOCK
JASON REBELLO
Celebrated British jazz pianist Jason Rebello was labelled a veteran by critics at 19 and over the next decade won most of the major jazz music awards.
“At 21, he’s probably the most gifted and fluent pianist to emerge in Britain since Django Bates” - Neville Hadsley, Jazz FM 1990
Classically trained but inspired by Herbie Hancock, he came to the attention of one of the founders of jazz fusion, Weather Report’s saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Impressed by his musical fluency and style, Shorter produced his No 1 debut album A Clearer View October 1990 Novus PD 90527.
By 1992 Jason’s musical talent and endearing personality enabled him to feature in a wide range of media projects including Artrageous BBC 2 which Janet Street-Porter invited him to present. Popular and confident, Jason chose to produce his second album Keeping Time. He invited a wealth of his musical friends to feature including soul diva Jocelyn Brown and Marianne Jean- Baptiste.
Jason undertook a gruelling schedule promoting his own band across the UK and Europe as well as appearing with notable artistes including Bud Shank, Wayne Shorter, Gary Burton, Branford Marsallis, Tommy Smith, Jean Toussaint, Desree, Mica Paris, Carleen Anderson and Omar. He also performed several classical concerts with the Nice Symphony Orchestra and the Halle Orchestra.
Make It Real July 1994 is Jason’s best-selling album to date. A heady mix of jazz, latin, soul and hip-hop featuring the vocal talents of Maysa Leak, Joy Rose and Cleveland Watkiss and Faithless rapper Maxi Jazz. An inspirational re-working of Gershwin’s Summertime received much radio play and was voted a KISS Classic by KISS Radio. Following a sold out UK tour and European festival dates, The British Council also sponsored a tour of Brazil. The musical partnering of Jason with Joy Rose produced a further album of just piano and voice.
In 1999 Jason travelled to New York to record Next Time Round with his trio featuring Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts and talented British bassist Orlando Le Fleming. The album was a return to acoustic jazz. Following the untimely death in 1998 of piano legend and personal hero Kenny Kirkland, Jason was invited by Sting to take his seat in the band. Jason recorded with Sting on his Grammy winning album Brand New Day 1999 and Sacred Love 2003. He toured the world as part of Sting’s band for 6 years and on the night of September 11 2001, Jason recorded the live DVD and CD All this Time at Sting’s home in Tuscany.
It was through an introduction from Sting that Jason met guitar legend Jeff Beck. Beck was looking for a new keyboard player to follow Jan Hammer. He was keen to recruit Jason, whose keyboard skills and musical versatility complemented Beck’s love to improvise and experiment in the world of fusion. Jason once again toured the world as part of Beck’s band for 6 years, and was introduced to the world of Rock music. He worked together with Beck on his 2010 album Emotion and Commotion and co-wrote the single Hammerhead which won a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance and was voted a Rock Classic by Planet Rock Radio.
Technique, diversity and adaptability have enabled Jason to work with artists across the musical spectrum such as Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Pee Wee Ellis, Joss Stone, Madeline Peyroux, Manu Katche and recently Charlene Soraia. In 2007 Jason inspired by family life in Bath embarked on the Jazz Rainbow project. Created as through of a love of teaching and a belief that expression through music is an important part of a child”s development, Jason has worked nationally to promote learning through musical workshops in schools. The project resulted in Jazz Rainbow November 2007, a charming reinvention of much loved children”s tunes the whole family could enjoy.
In 2103 Jason released “Anything but Look” featuring Omar, Will Downing, Jacob Collier, Joy Rose, Pino Palladino, Troy Miller, Paul Stacey, Jeremy Stacey, Miles Bould, George Rebello, Xantone Black.
His latest solo piano CD ‘Held‘ on Edition Records won best new CD in the 2016 British Jazz Awards. In 2018 he recorded on Tim Garland’s Album ‘Weather Walker‘.
Jason continues to teach, lecturing at various schools and music colleges including The Guildhall School of Music and Bath Spa University. He also helped to set up the Jazz Factory at the Wiltshire Music Centre.
“In terms of sheer ability and potential, Jason is probably the finest young jazz musician this country has produced. His playing has great poise and maturity, which is unusual in somebody so young.” Stuart Nicholson, author Jazz: The Modern
