Bill Simenson
Trumpet, Jazz Theory and Composition
Since beginning playing trumpet professionally in 1983 in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area Bill has been a member of the Latin Sounds Orchestra, the Jazz Composers’ Art Ensemble, Salsa Blanca (latin jazz), the Cedar Avenue Big Band (founding member), the Wolverines Classic Jazz Orchestra, the Band of Praise (New Orleans style funeral band) as well as own quartet and quintet (jazz). In addition he played in and later led the band for the Minnesota North Stars. Currently he is a member the Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra (ballroom dance) and Seven Steps to Havana (latin jazz).
Since June 2012 he has been the leader of the Bill Simenson Orchestra (17 piece big band). The BSO has performed Bill’s original music the first Tuesday of every month at Jazz Central Studios (Minneapolis MN). While the band is currently on hiatus due to the pandemic, he continues to compose and looks forward to the time when the band can resume its regular performances. In 2017 the Bill Simenson Orchestra released its debut recording, “Big Alpaca,” recorded in January of 2016.
Freelance work includes appearances with the Yohannes Tona Band, the Nachito Herrera Orchestra (A Journey to the Americas), Ronn Easton’s All Star Soul Revue, Mick Sterling and the Irresistables, Charanga Tropical/Gran Charanga, JazzMN Big Band, Jack McDuff, Rupert’s Big Band and Orchestra, De Stiljistics, the American Classic Jazz Orchestra, the Ordway Big Band, the band for the Minnesota Vikings, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, at area churches, and backing artists such as Cab Calloway, Steve Allen, Tony Sandler, Maureen McGovern, Joan Rivers, Mitzi Gaynor, the Temptations, and the Four Tops. Theater work includes productions at the Cricket Theater, Mixed Blood Theater, Children’s Theater, Guthrie Theater, and the Walker Art Center (with David Byrne and Robert Wilson).
In 1999 Bill was awarded a Bush Foundation Artist Fellowship in Music Composition and in 1990 a Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant.
Since June 2012 he has been the leader of the Bill Simenson Orchestra (17 piece big band). The BSO has performed Bill’s original music the first Tuesday of every month at Jazz Central Studios (Minneapolis MN). While the band is currently on hiatus due to the pandemic, he continues to compose and looks forward to the time when the band can resume its regular performances. In 2017 the Bill Simenson Orchestra released its debut recording, “Big Alpaca,” recorded in January of 2016.
Freelance work includes appearances with the Yohannes Tona Band, the Nachito Herrera Orchestra (A Journey to the Americas), Ronn Easton’s All Star Soul Revue, Mick Sterling and the Irresistables, Charanga Tropical/Gran Charanga, JazzMN Big Band, Jack McDuff, Rupert’s Big Band and Orchestra, De Stiljistics, the American Classic Jazz Orchestra, the Ordway Big Band, the band for the Minnesota Vikings, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, at area churches, and backing artists such as Cab Calloway, Steve Allen, Tony Sandler, Maureen McGovern, Joan Rivers, Mitzi Gaynor, the Temptations, and the Four Tops. Theater work includes productions at the Cricket Theater, Mixed Blood Theater, Children’s Theater, Guthrie Theater, and the Walker Art Center (with David Byrne and Robert Wilson).
In 1999 Bill was awarded a Bush Foundation Artist Fellowship in Music Composition and in 1990 a Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant.