[Pete Thomas]

This guy is one of the unsung heroes of saxophone, got that unique Louisiana style that seems deceptively simple but what a groove!

I met him many years ago when touring with Johnny Allan, and he's the king of swamp pop saxophone.

I recently did a transcription of one of his solos with Johnny Allan (includes soundclip)

http://www.petethomas.co.uk/solos-harry-simoneaux.html

Hope you enjoy it.

Sounds to me like there's some Lee Allen influence, but a very different feel. Pure Louisiana dance. He's still alive, but only got one lung left. I spoke to him a year ago and he had more or less stopped playing, but I lately heard from him and he is apparently brushing the dust off his horn.

 

[wersax]

Great job, Pete; that's a fun solo! Harry's got a great feel to his playing......

 

[selmer]

i played with him about 11 years ago and he had a whole bag of tricks up his sleeve....blues,creole,jazz. a true individualist.

 

[BariMelt]

I live in Lafayette, LA, and Harry Simoneaux is very well known around here. Johnnie Allen still performs, I backed him on several occasions. One of my good friends, Sidney Janice, played with Mr. Harry for a long time and still regards him as one of the best.

 

[rleitch]

Very Very Cool, Pete!

And thanks for the Lester Young lesson too!!!!!

Rory