Simon Katz

Simon Katz (born 16 May 1971)[1] is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work with the band Jamiroquai from 1995 to 2000. Katz was a recipient of the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo Or Group With Vocal for Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity" in 1997,[2] and the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection with Jamiroquai in 1999.[3]

Simon Katz
Katz in 2019
Katz in 2019
Background information
Birth nameSimon Laurence Katz
Born (1971-05-16) 16 May 1971
Nottingham, England
GenresAcid jazz, funk rock, R&B, trip hop, pop
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass, keyboards
Years active1994–present
Websitesimonkatz.us

Career

Jamiroquai, 1995–2000

Katz joined Jamiroquai in 1995, remaining as a member until 2000.[4][5] He was the band's guitarist on Travelling Without Moving (1996),[4] which won a Grammy Award[2] and four MTV Video Music Awards,[6] and its follow-up, Synkronized (1999).[7]

Gorillaz, 2001–2002

In 2001, Katz joined Damon Albarn's group Gorillaz, an animated quartet with actual musicians providing the voice and instruments for the animated "band members." During live performances and on the 2002 remix album Laika Come Home, he played guitar as the character of Noodle, a 14-year-old Japanese schoolgirl and guitar prodigy.[8][9] Katz was featured in the 2008 film Bananaz, which documents the development of the Gorillaz band from 2000 to 2006.[10]

For Mali Music, Albarn's project exploring the music of West Africa, Katz performed with Albarn in Mali alongside kora player Toumani Diabaté and guitarist Afel Bocoum.[11]

Other work

From 2002 to 2003, Katz served as musical director for Ms. Dynamite,[12] during which time she won the Mercury Prize for her debut album, A Little Deeper;[13] two Brit Awards, including Best British Female Artist,[14] and three MOBO Awards.

In 2010, Katz co-wrote the ballad "Be Good to Me" for Sia's fifth studio album, We Are Born.[15]

Katz occasionally works in film. He has been featured on the scores for the 2002 film City of God and the 2006 documentary ...More Than 1000 Words, and served as music supervisor on the 2008 film Ball Don't Lie.[16]

Simon Katz
Katz (left) on stage with Gorillaz at La Cigale in Paris, 2001.

Personal life

Katz was born and raised in Nottingham, England. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

Discography

Albums

References
  1. ""Happy Birthday,"". Nl.newsbank.com. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  2. ""Past Winners,"". The GRAMMYs. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  3. ""Ivor Novello winners,"". News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  4. Teresa Wiltz, “Jamiroquai Takes Mellow Brick Road,” Chicago Tribune, 1 February 1997.
  5. Ann Powers, “Dance Music Pumped Full of Helium,” New York Times, 13 September 2001.
  6. ""Beck, Jamiroquai big winners at MTV Music Awards,"". Cnn.com. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  7. Al Stone, “Recording Jamiroquai’s ‘Supersonic’,” Sound on Sound, December 1999.
  8. Dan Aquilante, “Idiot’s Guide to the Gorillaz – the Grammy-Winning Cartoon Brit-Rockers,” New York Post, 2 April 2006.
  9. ""Past bandmember activity,"". Funkin.com. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  10. Leslie Felperin, “Bananaz,” Variety, 29 February 2008.
  11. Mark Espiner, “Guerrilla tactics rule,” Evening Standard, 27 May 2002.
  12. ""Spotted: Simon Katz and Stuart Zender,"". Funkin.com. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  13. ""Ms Dynamite wins Mercury prize,"". News.bbc.co.uk. 17 September 2002. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  14. ""2003 – Best British Female – Ms Dynamite,"". Brits.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  15. ""Sia – Be Good To Me Lyrics,"". SongLyrics.com. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  16. "Simon Katz page". IMDb. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
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