Keyboardist Brian Simpson

Brian Simpson is a pianist, composer, and producer whose melodic touch has made him one of contemporary jazz's most recognizable keyboard voices. After studying at Northern Illinois University and moving to Los Angeles, he built a career that included work with Gerald Albright, Norman Brown, Janet Jackson, Anita Baker, James Ingram, and Wayman Tisdale. He also spent a decade as musical director and keyboardist for jazz legend George Duke.

Simpson's solo catalog pairs memorable melodies with sophisticated harmony and an instinctive feel for R&B rhythm. He co-wrote Surface's number-one pop and R&B hit “The First Time,” and his recordings—including It's All Good, Above the Clouds, South Beach, and Soul Connection—have produced a long run of smooth-jazz favorites while showcasing his strengths as both a writer and bandleader.

Live, Simpson balances polish with warmth. Expect lyrical piano lines, buoyant grooves, romantic ballads, and arrangements that give the band room to shine. His St. James Live performance offers the elegance of contemporary jazz with the energy and emotional directness of soul.