Musician Profile

Band Info

Simon Nelson – Trumpet, Cornet, Vocals and Band Leader. Simon took up playing the cornet aged six, playing alongside his older brother in a local band. At the tender age of 12 he began his journey into the world of jazz, starting tuition with a modern/mainstream youth band ‘Jazza’. After much success with ‘Jazza’, including a category win for junior jazz bands in the ‘Daily Telegraph National Music for Youth Competition’ and performing in the Royal Albert Hall. Simon was introduced to the cornet playing genius – Mr Gerry Salisbury. During lessons with Gerry. Simon learned to love Bix and Clifford Brown in equal amounts and his ears were opened to traditional jazz. The rest, as they say, is history! Having been a regular member of the Water Rats Jazz Band for sixteen years, Simon was taught the importance of establishing a strong traditional lead, to solo effectively and not to spill his beer on stage. Communicating with audiences via the cornet and with his own function bands around the East of England saw Simon ease of the jazz scene for a while but in February2000 he decided to make DixieMix into Norfolk’s hottest outfit. Audiences can’t lie when they say that DixieMix is setting a new bench mark for traditional jazz and entertainment is East Anglia.