Born in Rennes in 1960, Simon Goubert began studying the piano at the age of three. He discovered a second hand drum kit on sale in his hometown in February 1970, it turned out to be Kenny Clarke's kit. He explored the world of percussion, first at the Rennes conservatory of music, then, early in 1976 with Sylvio Gualda, at the Conservatory of Versailles. While there he studied harmony. He then got his first job as a percussionist with the polyphonic ensemble of ORTF under the management of Charles Ravier.
But above all, he often spent his nights in jazz clubs, notably the Riverbop in Paris, where he learnt his trade thanks to the kindness of Aldo Romano, Jacques Thollot, Bernard Lubat and Christian Vander. In 1979/1980, he played in a quartet made up of guitarist Philippe Petit, organist Emmanuel Bex and bassist Dominique Lemerle.
In 1981, he created his first ensemble with Dominique Lemerle and tenor saxophonist Eric Barret. Then the following year, he founded, with saxophonist Arrigo Lorenzi and pianist Jean Claude Lubin, the jazz group SPIRAL, who played in the most pure tradition of Coltrane. In parallel with this, from the start of 1982, up to 1987, he worked on keyboards in Christian Vander's group OFFERING.
His growing reputation was made while he worked in company with, amongst others, Steve Grossman, Michel Graillier, Alby Cullaz, Francis Lockwood, Kim Parker, Sonny Fortune, Andy Laverne, René Urtreger, Alain Jean-Marie, Michel Benita, Rick Margita, Christian Escoude, Riccardo Del Fra, Turk Mauro, Harold Danko, Joachim Kühn, Jean François Jenny Clarke...
In 1987, Simon Goubert formed his sextet that in 1989 transformed into a quintet. In 1991, he recorded his first album 'Haiti' with: Jean Michel Couchet, Laurent Fickelson, Stéphane Persiani, and special guest Steve Grossman. On the 18th of October 1993 he released his new album 'Couleurs de peaux'.
Goubert chose this suite of pieces because they were all written by jazz drummers that he admires. For too long Simon has been regarded by many as just another of Vander's many keyboard players. Even the first album 'Haiti' failed to totally dispel that myth - it was described by one English reviewer as "Coltrane out-takes". The choice of material on the second album however allows him to stretch out beyond merely parading his knowledge of Elvin Jones' licks; here he truly explores the different colours and textures of the skins. The stand-out item in this handsome collection is Vander's 'Day by Day' but all the tracks that follow it on this 69 minute long CD are worth checking out. You might even surprise yourself and discover that you do like jazz after all! Recorded at the Uniwerïa Zekt studio at the end of July '93 direct to 2 track DAT by Francis Linon.