Symon’s New Blue Diamonds, a six-piece instrumental band, features Symon Michael’s music. Symon is an avant garde jazz composer who creates musical narratives and landscapes with a rock palette rather than traditional jazz. Symon Michael was born in rural Appalachia in the 1970’s. He learned to read music and played clarinet when he was a child. He played the flute in high school, and also performed in several public and school concert bands. In 1980 Symon arrived in San Francisco and caught the SF punk scene in full swing. Symon bought his first saxophone at that time and began performing and writing as one of the few horn players of west coast “punkfunk”. He expanded his repertoire as a composer and arranger over the years and spent several years writing advertisement jingles for film. With Alexander Marlowe, a pianist and fellow composer, he founded The Music Workshop. Symon also released two 12-inch vinyl records containing original compositions during this time. Symon launched Symon’s New Blue Diamonds in the nineties. This all-instrumental jazz group was his own creation. The band became a popular choice at local nightclubs, and it released its first digital CD in 1993. Symon’s New Blue Diamonds reformed in 2008 after a long period of silence. Most of the original members were present. Symon’s sister Martha Michael joined the original lineup, and she plays the trumpet and flugelhorn in the new band. Symon lives in San Francisco, where he continues to write and record music. He uses the Internet and other digital media tools for distribution and collaboration. He is also a session musician, having worked with Blue Cat Sandwich, True Margrit and Larry Gallagher. From www.last.fm
