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British pianist Simon Mulligan's recordings, awards, collaborations and prestigious concerts draw a picture of a strict adherent to classical training and traditions but surprisingly, jazz and composing for TV and film are liberally woven in to his music making. This mold-breaking talent performs on April 10 in a Westport Arts Center concert at Pequot Library with a program that includes Chopin and Samuel Barber, as well as jazz.
Mulligan made his public debut in London at 19, in the early '90's, with the Royal Philharmonic, but by 13, he was already fronting his own jazz quartet and performing at festivals throughout the UK as well as in Europe, Shanghai and Barbados. Soon after his classical debut Mulligan made his first recording, under the direction of Yehudi Menuhin, with whom he colloborated frequently and shared a friendship, until Menuhin's death in 1999. Since then, he has made 20 recordings, including his most recent, of Beethoven sonatas and performed with many orchestras. In 2007, he was awarded the coveted Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Music for his musical achievements, making him one of the youngest recipients ever.
Mulligan's jazz persona includes a passion for improvising, a subject he has written about for Downbeat, JazzTimes, International Pianist and Gramophone magazines. As composer, Mulligan created the score for the theatre production Full Circle," starring Joan Collins and has worked on several film and TV projects with composer Michael Kamen.
The Times of London called Mulligan "the most abundantly gifted of pianists," so grab the chance to hear him on April 10 in Southport when he'll dazzle in both his classical and jazz modes. His concert begins at 4 p.m. and is free. For more information, visit the Library's website.
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