Dr. Simon Sloutsker

Biography

Simon Sloutsker, born in Moscow in 1972, began studying piano at the age of 5 and completed his studies in classical piano at the Russian School of Music by age 15. His great interest in composition and improvisation led him to enter the Jazz College in Moscow, where he studied jazz piano, jazz theory, and jazz history. After immigrating to Canada, Simon graduated from Université de Montréal with a Bachelor of Music in 1999 and from McGill University with a Master of Music in Jazz Performance in 2001. He studied under notable musicians such as Luc Beaugrand, Reno de Stephano, Jan Jarczyk, Jeff Johnston, and Joe Sullivan. As a leader of jazz ensembles, Simon has performed in venues across Montreal and Paris, collaborating with high-ranking Montreal jazz musicians like Jim Doxas and Zack Lober. His playing style integrates be-bop, hard-bop, elements of cool jazz, and contemporary music influenced by Eastern Europe. Simon draws inspiration from the works of jazz legends like John Coltrane and classical composers such as J.S. Bach and Chopin. Over the past decade, he has written compositions for big bands, string ensembles, and jazz quartets, producing original lyrics in English, French, and Russian. Active as a performer, Simon has recorded several solo piano albums and served as the main pianist for the Jeri Brown Collective. As an educator, he has developed an original approach to teaching jazz piano, focusing on the interplay of time, rhythm, melody, and harmony, and has over 10 years of experience teaching private piano lessons to young musicians.

Research Interests