Simon Tan
Encyclopedia
Simon Leonardo P. Tan, born August 13, 1970: bassist
from the Philippines. Beginning classical guitar
lessons at age 13 at the Yamaha
School of Music stimulated his later exposure to electric guitar
and, inevitably, his interest in the electric bass. In 1988, he studied the contrabass
at the University of the Philippines
College of Music until 1992, and thereafter embarked on a professional musical career. His ability as a multi-genre bass player readily caught attention, notably in the pioneering Manila-based blues
band, Lampano Alley, led by the Filipino
blues singer and recording artist, Binky Lampano; followed by his tenure as bassist and composer with the award-winning Philippine jazz group, WDOUJI.
, Ray Brown
, Paul Chambers
, Charlie Haden
, James Jamerson
, Marcus Miller
, Jaco Pastorius
and John Pattitucci. Notable (Filipino
) musical (non-bass) influences include vocalist Binky Lampano and saxophonist Tots Tolentino.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
from the Philippines. Beginning classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
lessons at age 13 at the Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
School of Music stimulated his later exposure to electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
and, inevitably, his interest in the electric bass. In 1988, he studied the contrabass
Contrabass
Contrabass refers to a musical instrument of very low pitch; generally those pitched one octave below instruments of the bass register...
at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
College of Music until 1992, and thereafter embarked on a professional musical career. His ability as a multi-genre bass player readily caught attention, notably in the pioneering Manila-based blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
band, Lampano Alley, led by the Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
blues singer and recording artist, Binky Lampano; followed by his tenure as bassist and composer with the award-winning Philippine jazz group, WDOUJI.
Influences
Simon Tan's influences are varied and span different genres ranging from rock, classical, blues and jazz. His influences as a bass instrumentalist include Roscoe BeckRoscoe Beck
Roscoe Beck is a multi-Grammy Award winning record producer and bassist. He has recorded and played with Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, Leonard Cohen, The Dixie Chicks. He also has his own signature electric bass: the Fender Roscoe Beck Bass, used by many other players.After earning a reputation from...
, Ray Brown
Ray Brown (musician)
Raymond Matthews Brown was an American jazz double bassist.-Biography:Ray Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and had piano lessons from the age of eight. After noticing how many pianists attended his high school, he thought of taking up the trombone, but was unable to afford one...
, Paul Chambers
Paul Chambers
Paul Laurence Dunbar Chambers, Jr. was a jazz bassist. A fixture of rhythm sections during the 1950s and 1960s, his importance in the development of jazz bass can be measured not only by the length and breadth of his work in this short period but also his impeccable time, intonation, and virtuosic...
, Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
, James Jamerson
James Jamerson
James Lee Jamerson was an American bass player. He was the uncredited bassist on most of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s , and he is now regarded as one of the most influential bass players in modern music history...
, Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller is an American jazz composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Miller is best known as a bassist, working with trumpeter Miles Davis, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, as well as maintaining a prolific solo career...
, Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
and John Pattitucci. Notable (Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
) musical (non-bass) influences include vocalist Binky Lampano and saxophonist Tots Tolentino.
Recordings
- Kulay: Flavor of the Moment - 1993
- WDOUJI: Ground Zero - 2001
- Lampano Alley: Back to the Blues Alley - 2003
- WDOUJI: Zen & The Art of Dressmaking - 2003
- Armida Siguion-Reyna: Babae - 2005
- Eraserheads Tribute: Ultraelectromagnetic Jam (with Isha) - 2005
- Noel Cabangon: Himig Nating Pag-Ibig - 2005
- Angel Pena: Ugnayan - 2006
- Mon David: My One And Only Love - 2006
- Skarlet: The Powder Room Stories - 2007
Other recordings
- The Company: For The Long Run - (undated)
- Parokya Ni Edgar: Christmas Album - (undated)
- Ka Roger: This Planet's Blue - (undated)
- Legit Misfitz: Ekis Pinoy - (undated)
- Novia (self-titled) - (undated)
Live band performances
- Bluesviminda
- Nota Republic
- Bob Aves Group
- Cynthia Alexander
- Happy People
- Isha
- Johnny Alegre Affinity
- Kulay
- Lampano Alley
- Maria (later, Mariya's Mistress)
- Mishka Adams
- Mon David
- Noel Cabangon
- Peryodiko
- Skarlet
- UP Jazz Ensemble
- WDOUJI (a.k.a. Witch Doctors of Underground Jazz Improvisation)
Legitimate Theatre
- P.E.T.A. "Ang Palasyo Ni Valentin"
- Repertory Philippines Blood Brothers - The Musical
International festivals
- Penang Jazz Festival (2007) with the Bob Aves Group
- Mosaic Music FestivalMosaic Music FestivalMosaic Music Festival is an annual 10-day long music festival in Singapore that features both local and overseas acts. It showcases a variety of music genres, ranging from indie-folk to hip-hop. It aims to provide a platform for interaction between Singapore and International artistes...
(2005 and 2008) with Lampano Alley