Emma Rawicz – Gwilym Simcock: Two generations, one style of music

Emma Rawicz and Gwilym Simcock belong to different generations. There is a gap of more than twenty years between them. Nevertheless, their musical journeys have taken them through a surprising number of shared milestones: the same music schools, some of the same teachers, and many of the musicians who have inspired them.

In 2023, they shared the stage for the first time at a concert at the Royal Academy of Music. It didn’t end there. That performance gave rise to a duo, and later to the album *Big Visit*. Four of the six tracks were written by Rawicz and Simcock specifically for one another. Rawicz did not, therefore, compose for just any pianist, nor did Simcock for just any saxophonist. Both knew exactly who would be playing the piece when they were writing it.

Rawicz only discovered jazz at the age of fifteen and took up the tenor saxophone shortly afterwards. Four years later, she had already released an album of her own compositions, *Incantation*. She now plays the tenor and soprano saxophones, leads her own big band and performs throughout Europe. In 2026, she was voted ‘UK Jazz Act of the Year’ at the Jazz FM Awards. She favours powerful rhythms and sweeping melodies. Even at a fast tempo, a clear melodic line remains discernible.

Simcock’s journey began in classical music. He studied piano, horn and composition before jazz became increasingly important to him. He was the first jazz musician to be accepted into the BBC New Generation Artists programme. His solo album *Good Days at Schloss Elmau* was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2011. He was also a member of Pat Metheny’s band for five years.