MJI PRESENTS: SIMPSON & CORNISH DUO

MJI PRESENTS: SIMPSON & CORNISH DUO with Special Guest

Join us for a special night with this dynamic duo who met while attending the prestigious Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz at UCLA.

Seating is limited. Get your tickets today!

ABOUT LENARD SIMPSON:

Originally hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lenard Simpson’s well-earned reputation as “quickly becoming one of the most important saxophonists of this generation” (Kiefer) has secured him a spot as a rising star among his contemporaries. From his early days in Milwaukee as a self-taught beginner to formal studies at Northern Illinois University (B.M., jazz performance) and UCLA’s Herbie Hancock Institute (M.M., music performance jazz), Simpson’s natural ability and outstanding musicianship have been recognized by some of the most celebrated jazz musicians and pedagogues across the world, including Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride, Wayne Shorter, and many more.

An active, in-demand performer, composer, arranger, and educator, Simpson “is trusted and called upon by some of the highest-level musicians anywhere” (Kendall Moore) due to his strong collaborative musicianship, unique sound marked by “profound soulfulness combined with a sparkling intelligence and curiosity” (Billy Childs), and compassionate and individualized approach to teaching. In addition to performances in the Chicago area as a leader of his namesake trio/quartet, Simpson’s work as an in-demand sideman has included performances both local and abroad with Billy Childs, Kurt Elling, MarquisHill, Kiefer, Sara Gazarek, GeorgeFludas, Clayton Cameron and Brian Lynch. As an Educator, Simpson teaches at the Milwaukee Institute of Jazz; he served as an adjunct saxophone professor at Northern Illinois University. and has taught masterclasses for international JazzDay in Melbourne, Australia, at the Sitka Jazz Festival in Sitka, Alaska. Additionally, Simpson has taught at the Birch Creek Jazz camp, Northern Illinois Jazz camp, and the UCLA Global Jazz camp. 

ABOUT PAUL CORNISH:

Los Angeles-based pianist and composer Paul Cornish strives to inspire freedom and collaboration in his music and community. Hailing from Houston, where he was a student at the prestigious High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Cornish was one of seven jazz prodigies worldwide selected to be awarded a full fellowship to attend the esteemed Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz at UCLA. Cornish received the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s 2020 New Note Commission and recently was awarded First Place in the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition and the 18th Street Arts Center’s 2021 Make Jazz Fellowship. Cornish was also awarded the Grand Prize in the 2018 American Jazz Piano Competition. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Cornish has performed extensively across the globe with such notable artists as Herbie Hancock, Mary Stallings, Louis Cole, Theo Croker, Snoh Aalegra, Terrace Martin, John Legend, and HAIM.