Mark Simos

Over the past three decades, Mark Simos has steadily built a reputation in progressive traditional music circles as a songwriter, tunesmith, fiddler, composer, and arranger; an innovative, harmonically adventurous accompanist on guitar and piano; and an engaging and dedicated teacher. Widely known for his songs recorded by the likes of Alison Krauss and Union Station, the Del McCoury Band, Laurie Lewis and others, Mark’s music combines a lifetime’s love and exploration of varied traditions with a continuing willingness to stretch forms and take musical risks. Mick Moloney describes Mark as “... a musician’s musician, versed in many musical idioms and excelling at all of them… one of the few musicians I know equally at home in the often incompatible roles of traditionalist and innovator.”

Coming of musical age in the eclectic California traditional music scene of the mid-1970s, Mark learned from a wide variety of both older and younger players, drawing ideas from styles ranging from Celtic, old-time, and bluegrass to Balkan and klezmer music. His old-time fiddle style was inspired early on by the haunting field recordings of older Kentucky fiddlers such as Luther Strong. As his playing has matured, Mark has continued to learn both directly from older players, friends and musical colleagues, and through intensive listening to source recordings. Mark earned 1st place in old-time fiddle at Clifftop 2003; and fiddles with his band of Clifftop friends Cliffhangers, who have regularly placed as traditional band finalists. As a dance fiddler or in the vigorous interplay of live sessions, Mark is known for his “hell of a bow arm,” subtle dynamics and ornamentation, improvisatory prowess, and penchant for making up tunes on the spot without telling anyone.

For Mark, writing new tunes has always been a natural extension of being a traditional player. Mark’s self-styled ‘traditional tunes from imaginary countries’ have entered the repertoire of dance musicians and players around this country; and more than 20 cuts of Simos instrumentals have been recorded by various artists. His 1995 debut solo album, Race the River Jordan (Yodel-Ay-Hee CD017), original fiddle tunes in a Southern old-time style, garnered critical acclaim and frequent radio play on traditional music programs. Art Menius, in Bluegrass Unlimited, called it “…my favorite almost all-instrumental album of the 1990s… Simos provides not just exciting new music that uses elements of traditional music; his work continues and gives back to the tradition. … Campground tunes for the 21st century…” In 2003, Mark released Crazy Faith, an album of original songs (and one original fiddle tune!) produced by master old-time fiddler Bruce Molsky. To date, songs from Crazy Faith have been recorded by Alison Krauss and Union Station, John Cowan, and others. Mark is also a long-time member of Childsplay, a diverse orchestra of fiddlers (and violinists) who play instruments made by Cambridge violin maker Robert Childs. Mark’s “orchestral fiddle music” compositions and arrangements have become signature pieces for the band.

Most recently, Mark recorded an album trilogy of traditional and original old time fiddle tunes with the Cliffhangers and other “campground friends” from the Clifftop festival, produced by Bob Carlin and engineered by Tim Brown of 5-String Productions. The first two volumes—The Cliffhangers: On the Edge, and Clifftop Notes Vol. 1: Original Old-Time Fiddle Tunes by Mark Simos, were released Summer ’06, with the third volume—Clifftop Notes Vol. 2: Big Ears due out in ’07. To celebrate the release of this project, Mark worked with organizers of the Clifftop festival to introduce and host a showcase of new tunes and songs in the old-time tradition; and was instrumental in adding new awards for original compositions to Clifftop’s (recently re-christened) Neo-Traditional Band Contest.