Simon Hurley - Guitarist

Simon first picked up the guitar 30 years ago and, after having been self-taught, decided to embark upon his first formal musical education in 2006. In 2010 he graduated with a First Class Honours Degree from Colchester Institute, also being awarded the Centre Prize for Music. It was here that he began to study jazz under the tutelage of session guitarist Andy Watson.

As a freelance musician, he has performed in many musical styles from rock and blues to country, swing and funk in venues and theatres across the South-East, having performed with Heather Peace and Marc Almond.

Simon also performs as a jazz soloist or bandleader in various ensembles and fronts the Simon Hurley Quartet and The Djangoliers who have both performed at the Writtle Jazz Festival. He is a regular member of Simon Brown's 'Back to Birdland' ensemble and recorded the album 'My Favourite Things' with the Crissy Lee Quartet 

He is a fluent soloist as well as accompanist and his jazz playing is much inspired by that of Joe Pass and Martin Taylor, who described his playing as ‘Just beautiful’.

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Through his time playing at jazz clubs in the South-East, he has had the pleasure of playing alongside artists such as Ben Holder, Simon Spillett, Alan Barnes, Georgina Jackson, Martin Shaw, Brandon Allen, Josh Kemp, Simon Allen, Matt Waies, Martin Speake, Nigel Price, Osian Roberts, Steve Fishwick, Quentin Collins, Roger Beaujolais, Mick Hutton, Digby Fairweather, Jacqui Hicks, Julian Stringle, Dominic Ashworth...

Simon divides his times between teaching, recording, accompanying and performing in and around the Essex area.

In another life he has also been the 5-string banjo player and singer in the Bluegrass quintet ‘The Ragged String Band’ with many high profile appearances to their name including the Maverick Festival, Camp Bestival and Harvest at Jimmy’s Farm (supporting Newton Faulkner and Ed Sheeran).