Omer Simeon (Victor) 1902

Clarinettista e sassofonista (alto, baritono) statunitense (New Orleans, 21.7.1902 – New York, 17.9.1959).

​A Chicago, a dodici anni, prende lezioni di clarinetto con Lorenzo Tio Jr. ed esordisce come professionista nel 1920, nella formazione del fratello, il violinista Al Simeon. Entra nell’orchestra di Charlie Elgar (1923-27), Luis Russell (1928), Erskine Tate (1928-30), Jerome Carrington (1931), e incide con Jelly Roll Morton (1926), King Oliver (1927), Reuben Reeves, Jabbo Smith e Alex Hill (1929).

Sino al 1941 collabora con Earl Hines pur suonando di tanto in tanto anche per Fletcher Henderson (1936 e 1938). Si unisce in seguito a Coleman Hawkins (1940), Walter Fuller (1941-42) e Jimmie Lunceford – nella cui orchestra resta, anche dopo la morte dello stesso, sino al 1950, sotto la direzione prima di Joe Thomas e quindi di Edwin Wilcox. Lavora come free lance con Kid Ory, Bud Freeman e Bobby Hackett, prima di suonare regolarmente nell’orchestra di Wilbur DeParis (1951-59).
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Tra i più grandi clarinettisti dello stile New Orleans, Omer Simeon si è ispirato a Johnny Dodds e Jimmie Noone. Abile nelle improvvisazioni collettive, predilige le lunghe frasi agili ed equilibrate, esprimendosi sull’intera tessitura dello strumento.

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American clarinetist and saxophonist (alto, baritone) (New Orleans, 21.7.1902 - New York, 17.9.1959).

​In Chicago, at twelve, he took clarinet lessons with Lorenzo Tio Jr. and made his professional debut in 1920, in the training of his brother, the violinist Al Simeon. Enter the orchestra of Charlie Elgar (1923-27), Luis Russell (1928), Erskine Tate (1928-30), Jerome Carrington (1931), and record with Jelly Roll Morton (1926), King Oliver (1927), Reuben Reeves, Jabbo Smith and Alex Hill (1929).

Until 1941 he collaborated with Earl Hines while occasionally playing for Fletcher Henderson (1936 and 1938). He later joined Coleman Hawkins (1940), Walter Fuller (1941-42), and Jimmie Lunceford - in whose orchestra he remained, even after his death, until 1950, under the direction of Joe Thomas and then Edwin Wilcox. He worked as a freelance with Kid Ory, Bud Freeman, and Bobby Hackett before playing regularly in Wilbur DeParis' orchestra (1951-59).

Among the greatest New Orleans-style clarinetists, Omer Simeon was inspired by Johnny Dodds and Jimmie Noone. Skilled in collective improvisations, he prefers long, agile, and balanced phrases, expressing himself on the instrument's entire texture.
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