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Simon Katz
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Key Information
Simon Katz (born 16 May 1971)[1] is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work with the band Jamiroquai from 1995 to 2000. Katz has been nominated for 2 Grammy Awards and was a recipient of the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo Or Group With Vocal for Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity" in 1997,[2] and the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection with Jamiroquai in 1999.[3]
Career
[edit]Jamiroquai, 1995–2000
[edit]Katz joined Jamiroquai in 1995, remaining as a member until 2000.[4][5] He was the band's guitarist on Travelling Without Moving (1996),[4] which won a Grammy Award[2] and four MTV Video Music Awards,[6] and its follow-up, Synkronized (1999).[7]
Gorillaz, 2001–2002
[edit]In 2001, Katz joined Damon Albarn's group Gorillaz, an animated quartet with actual musicians providing the voice and instruments for the animated "band members." During live performances and on the 2002 remix album Laika Come Home, he played guitar as the character of Noodle, a 14-year-old Japanese schoolgirl and guitar prodigy.[8] Katz was featured in the 2008 film Bananaz, which documents the development of the Gorillaz band from 2000 to 2006.[9]
For Mali Music, Albarn's project exploring the music of West Africa, Katz performed with Albarn in Mali alongside kora player Toumani Diabaté and guitarist Afel Bocoum.[10]
Other work
[edit]From 2002 to 2003, Katz served as musical director for Ms. Dynamite,[11] during which time she won the Mercury Prize for her debut album, A Little Deeper;[12] two Brit Awards, including Best British Female Artist,[13] and three MOBO Awards.[citation needed]
In 2010, Katz co-wrote the ballad "Be Good to Me" for Sia's fifth studio album, We Are Born.[14]
Katz occasionally works in film. He has been featured on the scores for the 2002 film City of God working alongside Brazilian Film Composer Antonio Pinto and the 2006 documentary ...More Than 1000 Words, and served as music supervisor on the 2008 film Ball Don't Lie.[15]
Katz has also worked with Lana Del Rey, Diana Ross, Omar, Ronnie Wood, Tony Allen
Personal life
[edit]Katz was born and raised in Nottingham, and raised in North London England. He currently resides between New York and London.
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- Jamiroquai – The Return of the Space Cowboy (1994, Sony)
- Jamiroquai – Travelling Without Moving (1996, Sony)
- Jamiroquai – Synkronized (1999, Sony)
- HKB FiNN – Vitalistics (2002, Son Records)
- Spacemonkeyz vs. Gorillaz – Laika Come Home (2002, Parlaphone)
- E2K – If Not Now (2003, Topic)
- Gemma Fox – Messy (2004, Polydor)
- Mad Professor – Method to the Madness (2005, Sanctuary)
- Jamiroquai – High Times: Singles 1992-2006 (2006, Sony)
- Platinum Pied Pipers – Abundance (2009, Ubiquity)
- Sia – We Are Born (2010, Sony)
- Dazzled Kid – Fire Needs Air (2011, Dazzled Kid Records)
- Sambismo – The Birth Of... (2012)
References
[edit]- ^ ""Happy Birthday,"". Nl.newsbank.com. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ a b ""Past Winners,"". The GRAMMYs. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ ""Ivor Novello winners,"". News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ a b Teresa Wiltz, “Jamiroquai Takes Mellow Brick Road,” Chicago Tribune, 1 February 1997.
- ^ Ann Powers, “Dance Music Pumped Full of Helium,” New York Times, 13 September 2001.
- ^ ""Beck, Jamiroquai big winners at MTV Music Awards,"". Cnn.com. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ Al Stone, “Recording Jamiroquai’s ‘Supersonic’,” Sound on Sound, December 1999.
- ^ ""Past bandmember activity,"". Funkin.com. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ Leslie Felperin, “Bananaz,” Variety, 29 February 2008.
- ^ Mark Espiner, “Guerrilla tactics rule,” Evening Standard, 27 May 2002.
- ^ ""Spotted: Simon Katz and Stuart Zender,"". Funkin.com. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ ""Ms Dynamite wins Mercury prize,"". News.bbc.co.uk. 17 September 2002. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ ""2003 – Best British Female – Ms Dynamite,"". Brits.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ ""Sia – Be Good To Me Lyrics,"". SongLyrics.com. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ "Simon Katz page". IMDb. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
External links
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| Authority control databases: Artists |
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Simon Katz
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Biography
Early life
Simon Laurence Katz was born on 16 May 1971 in Nottingham, England.[1][8][9]Personal life
Simon Katz maintains a private personal life, with limited public information available about his family, relationships, or hobbies as of 2025. Details on these aspects are not widely documented in reputable sources, reflecting his preference for privacy outside of his professional endeavors. Non-career elements remain largely undisclosed.Career
With Jamiroquai
Simon Katz joined Jamiroquai as lead guitarist in 1995, becoming a key part of the band's evolving lineup during their rise to international prominence.[10] His arrival coincided with the group's shift toward a more polished acid jazz and funk sound, complementing vocalist Jay Kay's charismatic frontmanship and the rhythm section's tight grooves.[1] Katz's guitar work featured prominently on Jamiroquai's third studio album, Travelling Without Moving (1996), where he provided electric guitar on tracks 1 through 7 and 9 through 13, including the iconic single "Virtual Insanity."[11] This album marked the band's commercial breakthrough, blending funk riffs with electronic elements, and Katz's contributions helped earn Jamiroquai the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Virtual Insanity."[12] He continued as the primary guitarist on the follow-up Synkronized (1999), playing on tracks 2 through 11 and adding layered textures that supported the album's upbeat, dance-oriented tracks.[13] During his five-year tenure, Katz participated in extensive live tours that showcased Jamiroquai's energetic performances, including appearances at major events like the 1995 Montreux Jazz Festival, where the band delivered sets featuring material from their early albums alongside new compositions.[10] The band's dynamics emphasized collaborative improvisation within a structured funk framework, with Katz's rhythmic and melodic guitar lines integrating seamlessly with percussionist Sola Akingbola's polyrhythms and keyboardist Toby Smith's atmospheric keys.[14] These live shows, spanning Europe, North America, and Japan, solidified Jamiroquai's reputation as a dynamic live act blending jazz fusion with pop accessibility.[15] Katz departed from Jamiroquai in 2000, shortly after the release of Synkronized, paving the way for new members as the band prepared for their next phase.[16]With Gorillaz
In 2001, Simon Katz joined Gorillaz as the band's inaugural live guitarist, embodying the animated character Noodle—a 14-year-old Japanese guitar prodigy—during their performances. This role adapted his funk background from Jamiroquai to Gorillaz's blend of hip-hop, dub, and electronic elements in a virtual format.[17] Katz contributed to Gorillaz's Phase One live tours and shows from 2001 to 2002, performing tracks from the band's self-titled debut album across venues in Europe and North America, including key dates like the Manchester Academy and New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom. His guitar work supported the live band's setup, which featured screens projecting the animated members while the human musicians remained partially obscured to maintain the virtual illusion.[17] On the 2002 remix album Laika Come Home by Spacemonkeyz versus Gorillaz, Katz provided guitar on the track "5/4 (P.45)" and organ on "Lil' Dub Chefin'," enhancing the reggae-dub reinterpretations of the debut material.[18] Katz appeared in the 2008 documentary Bananaz, directed by Ceri Levy, where footage from around the 30-minute mark captures him discussing his early involvement with the project and the challenges of live touring as part of the virtual band's real-world extension.[19]Other projects
Following his departure from major band commitments, Simon Katz transitioned into roles as a musical director, songwriter, and film music contributor. From 2002 to 2003, he served as musical director for British artist Ms. Dynamite during her promotional activities for the album A Little Deeper, which earned the Mercury Prize that year.[20] In film, Katz contributed to the soundtrack of the Brazilian crime drama City of God (2002) as a featured musician in the music department.[21] He later provided similar support for the 2006 documentary More Than 1000 Words, directed by Paige Ellens and Rodrigo Bacha, where he appeared as a featured musician.[22] Katz also took on music supervision duties for the 2008 sports drama Ball Don't Lie, overseeing the selection and integration of tracks for the film starring Emmanuelle Chriqui and Nick Cannon.[23] Katz co-wrote Jamiroquai tracks featured on the soundtracks of Napoleon Dynamite (2004; "Canned Heat"), 10 Years (2011; "Virtual Insanity"), and Lone Survivor (2013; "Canned Heat").[4][5][6] Katz's songwriting extended to pop music with his co-writing of the ballad "Be Good to Me" for Sia's 2010 album We Are Born, alongside Sia Furler and Jesse Graham; the track features Katz's contributions to its emotional lyricism and arrangement.[24] His production work includes guitar on select tracks of PPP's album Abundance (2009).[25] Public records show limited major updates to Katz's portfolio after 2010, with no significant new collaborations or releases documented as of 2025, potentially reflecting a focus on behind-the-scenes or private endeavors.[1]Awards and honors
Grammy Awards
Simon Katz, as the guitarist for Jamiroquai, contributed to the band's breakthrough album Travelling Without Moving (1996), which propelled their international success and led to significant recognition at the Grammy Awards. The standout single "Virtual Insanity" earned Jamiroquai the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards, held in 1998 for works released in 1997, marking a pivotal moment in the band's fusion of acid jazz, funk, and pop that captivated global audiences. Katz shared in this award as a band member and contributor.[26][27] In the same ceremony, Jamiroquai received a nomination for Best Pop Album for Travelling Without Moving, acknowledging the album's innovative production and commercial impact, though it did not secure the win. Katz shared in this nomination as well.[28][27]Other awards
In 1999, Simon Katz, alongside Jamiroquai bandmates Jason Kay, Derrick McKenzie, Toby Smith, Wallis Buchanan, and Stuart Zender, received the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection, honoring their collective songwriting achievements with the band.[29] This UK-based accolade, presented by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors, highlighted the impact of Jamiroquai's material during the late 1990s.[29] As of 2025, public documentation of additional non-Grammy awards or honors for Katz remains limited, with no other major international or industry recognitions prominently recorded in reputable sources.Discography
Studio albums
Simon Katz is best known for his guitar work on Jamiroquai's studio albums during the mid-1990s. He joined the band in 1995 and played a key role in shaping their acid jazz and funk sound across multiple releases.[1] His contributions to Jamiroquai include:| Album Title | Release Year | Role | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travelling Without Moving | 1996 | Guitar | Sony Soho Square |
| Synkronized | 1999 | Guitar | Sony Soho Square |