| Bassist, composer, producer
and music educator, Shimon Ben-Shir grew up in Israel, surrounded by the
sounds of Middle Eastern music. He first began playing guitar and taking
lessons at the age of 12. In 1990 was one of the founding members of the
Bustan Abraham Band, a Middle Eastern musical group led by the renowned
Avshalom Farjun, who had toured the world and performed at many notable
jazz and world music festivals. Shimon co-wrote the title composition Bustan,
on their first album. In this setting Shimon began to develop and grow as
a professional bass player. Shimon came to Boston to attend the jazz program
at Berklee College of Music in 1991.
Since that time he has immersed himself in the New England music scene, playing in a wide range of bands covering diverse musical genres, including big band, straight ahead jazz, blues, rock and pop in clubs as well as on television. He graduated from Berklee in 1994. |
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Shimon joined the What's New Jazz Ensemble, a composer collective based in Boston, MA just prior to graduating from Berklee. There he contributed original compositions to favorable reviews.
Shimon devotes time to teaching students of all ages, giving private bass and guitar lessons and, serves as an educational leader to jazz and blues ensembles at the John Payne Music Center in Brookline, MA. Although a teacher Shimon remains committed as a student of the bass and continuing his studies with Oscar Stagnaros, Bruce Gertz and Charlie Banacus.
In 2002 Shimon released his first album "Shades," with the Shimon Ben Shir Group on the Nada Label. "Shades" received positive reviews in the Boston area newspapers as well as a feature article in the Boston Globe. The group perform regularly many notable venues throughout the Boston area.
Most recently Shimon produced and recorded the Shimon Ben Shir Groups latest CD, "Ways." He also composed the majority of the tracks and his bass playing is featured throughout the album. The newest offering shows a true evolution from "Shades," while incorporating the vast musical styles that Shimon has absorbed on his life-long musical journey. The music of Shimon Ben Shir is a continually evolving project, growing in many different ways and always with a unique, distinctive sound that is only Shimon Ben-Shir's.
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