“Simon met my son on his level and helped develop his confidence to play live.”
Eduard Munck (Parent of student)
“Simon is easy to work with, quick, professional, and insightful as a producer. Every project we work together has a spark!”
Tess Posner (client, independent artist)
“We have run several events with Celestial Hotties and Simon is a breeze to work with, plus he sells tickets!”
Jason Mulvaney (booking, Verdi Club SF)
Shredbeard , Professor of Funk, Simonoto,
I go by many names, because I am one who wears many hats!
Producer, engineer, bandleader, sideman, coach, teacher, vocalist and instrumentalist, I have made sure to understand all sides of the equation that makes up the stuff we hear.
As Bandleader
I currently lead a Multi-media art collaborative and event organization Celestial Hotties Art Collective. We run monthly sessions at Boom Boom Room and Tupper and Reed. We have curated and headlined many shows, focusing on community empowerment through music and visual art. Organizations we have curated full events for with food, key speakers, art and music include: Liyang Network, Middle Eastern Children’s Alliance, Coalition on Homelessness and AccessRJ. Stay tuned for 2025 calendar!
As Producer/Engineer
Working underneath Otis Mcdonald at the legendary Hyde Street Recording Studios, I have worked behind the scenes at dozen of recording sessions. I have also run several full service sessions with Devon Carsen, Magilo, Tess Posner, Clay Xavier, Ewik Nelson, and Huney Knuckles to name a few.
These days I have been working at Tiny Telephone Recording Studio with Danielle Goldsmith. We are running a full live session with Magilo February 2025!
As Studio Musician
I was instrumental in bringing Ewik Nelson’s 2022 album 満天の夢空. A Jazz fusion album unlike any other!
I am in the midst of recording Drums and Guitar for Luis Garcia’s upcoming album.
Working with Tess Posner I record all live instrumentation on top of producing and engineering.
I record ALL parts on the songs I self release as Simonoto!
As Teacher
I currently front the youth funk department at the California Jazzschool, studying, charting, performing and revealing to the next generation the classic music of James Brown, Sly Stone, Pointer Sisters, Headhunters, Tower of Power and Earth Wind and Fire, and the more modern Vulfpeck, Louis Cole, Lettuce, Robert Glasper, and Hiatus Kaiyote.
I also offer private and group lessons, check out the Education tab for more details!
