New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Thelemaque Records) - An audacious move for any multi-genre musician, classically trained musician Victor Simonson has taken steps to break the mold from the typical one-type-of-music album to a debut CD project he calls Victory! The native New Yorker will showcase Neo-Eclectic sound, embracing a variety of music ranging from smooth jazz, classical, gospel, and organ music to opera, acoustic jazz, and inspirational songs.
Concert-goers will see Simonson play the piano, conduct, sing, and play the organ at the CD release in early 2008, during New York City area performances on Friday, Feb. 1st, Sat. Feb 2nd, and Sunday, Feb 3rd, 2008. Playing host to the native New Yorker are Memorial Presbyterian Church, 189 Babylon Turnpike, Roosevelt, NY, Calvary Baptist Church, 11110 Guy R Brewer Blvd, Jamaica, NY, both at 7:00 pm respectively. Concerts are free-to-the-public with a free will offering. Simonson will also appear at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 279 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY during Sunday morning services at 8:00 am and 11:00 am.
"I have always wanted to showcase a wide variety of music", stated the award-winning musician. Simonson currently serves as the Associate Conductor for Oprah Winfrey's national production of The Color Purple, which is in large part an inspiration for his own project, along with inspiration from Joseph Joubert, the Associate Conductor for the Broadway production.
"We live in a challenging and diverse society. It is fitting to offer different sounds". Simonson believes many music lovers are ready for and will enjoy hearing a variety of music styles on one CD. The Eastman trained baritone titled the self-produced thirteen track project "Victory!" as a play on words of his first name, but also as a hopeful triumph to help break the mold of single focused music styles.
Having worked on projects for Donnie McClurkin (gospel) and Kim Thompson (jazz), Simonson is best known for and has defined himself as a multi-genre musician, as the Music Director for Three Mo' Tenors, the Boys Choir of Harlem, and Three Mo' Divas. In addition to his degree in voice, he attended Howard University for piano and organ. He also studied trombone during his earlier years. It has been said Simonson's voice is like butter and his hands are capable of playing anything.
Diverse is not an adequate description for Simonson's work. His repertoire of talent also includes opera soprano Denyce Graves (classical) who stated about Simonson,
"Someone once said everyone has talent, but what is rare is the courage to follow that talent to the place where it leads. Victor Simonson has courage and is going in the right direction. I am excited for the world to become familiar with this great artist!"
Simonson hopes his bold move will help pave a way for other musicians and producers who have always wanted to highlight a multi-genre music product.
