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Classical Guitarist - Derek Macrae
(54)
-
Toronto, ON -
Guitarist
-
83 Verified Bookings
Kimmberly C. said “Amazing”
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Overview
Looking for a jazz guitarist for your event? Looking for guitar and vocalist for your special occasion?
I am a recording artist and performer and I provide soothing, solo jazz guitar with a touch of flamenco on a nylon string guitar. This lends to a soft sound that's great for putting guests at ease at any function. I can also play on an electric in the classic jazz style. I can also perform with a vocalist for wedding ceremonies! If you're looking for calming, non-intrusive music for your receiving line, cocktail party, wine and cheese party, corporate events and the like, or a duo for your wedding ceremonies, then contact me!
10 Reviews
Yvonne P. •
September 12, 2022
I can highly recommend Simon, his music was perfect for our event. Will hire him again in the future.
Hired as:
Jazz Guitarist
Jazz Guitarist
Response from Simon Arruda:
Thank you again for letting me be a part of your special event. The company was good and the pace was jumping. Best wishes for everything that comes next for your family!
Gustavo M. •
June 26, 2022
Simon, thank you for making our event extra special. We will definitely keep you in mind for our next event. Gustavo and Jeannine
Hired as:
Jazz Guitarist
Jazz Guitarist
Kamara J. •
August 16, 2020
We booked Simon as a jazz guitarist for our August 2020 intimate wedding ceremony.
Simon was an outstanding addition to our wedding ceremony and performed selections that added the perfect atmosphere to our day. From start to finish, Simon was wonderful to work with - he was professional, checked in regularly, and worked with us to create a meaningful set list using his extensive music knowledge. We recommend Simon highly and would not hesitate to book him for another event.
Hired as:
Jazz Guitarist
Jazz Guitarist
Response from Simon Arruda:
Thank you so much Kamara for the kind words! It was a pleasure to be a part of your special day!
Renee B. •
July 27, 2020
Simon phoned me ahead of time to connect to discuss dress code, genre, atmosphere and his technical requirements (e.g. seat, etc). He was punctual and pleasant.
Highly recommended!
Hired as:
Jazz Guitarist
Jazz Guitarist
Samantha M. •
July 13, 2017
We hired Simon to play at our wedding reception a couple of weeks ago. He played during the dinner as our guests were eating and he did an excellent job. His music was perfect to set the ambiance of elegance at our wedding and i would definitely recommend him!
Hired as:
Jazz Guitarist
Jazz Guitarist
Jonathan H. •
April 9, 2017
Excellent gig at our party. Loved the jazzed up renditions of Christmas tunes! He was great to work with and very communicative.
Hired as:
Jazz Guitarist, Guitarist
Jazz Guitarist, Guitarist
Natasha I. •
March 8, 2017
Simon did an amazing job playing at our son's baptismal party and exceeded any expectations we had. He was easy to communicate with and displayed a very high level of professionalism. Simon's music selection and playing was beautiful and always at the perfect volume level. He was flexible and very pleasant to work with. He was the "final touch" to our evening and really made the whole event come together. My guests were very impressed with Simon and I would hire him for our next event without hesitation.
Hired as:
Guitarist, Jazz Guitarist
Guitarist, Jazz Guitarist
Minh P. •
March 7, 2017
I had a casual event with about 30 guests and once I booked with Simon, he was in constant communication with me regarding my event to ensure that the evening would go smoothly, including asking what songs I prefer, how he should dress (evening/casual), etc.. On the day of, Simon was on time, organized and played a beautiful repertoire of ballads and jazz. My guests were impressed with his performance. I would definitely ask Simon to perform at my future events again and recommend him to all my friends and associates.
Hired as:
Guitarist, Jazz Guitarist
Guitarist, Jazz Guitarist
Samantha M. •
March 5, 2017
Saw Simon play at a house party. His music created a soothing atmosphere for the event. He is a great musician and I admire his passion for music and teaching it to others!
Hired as:
Jazz Guitarist
Jazz Guitarist
Cristina H. •
March 5, 2017
We hired Simon to play at a client Christmas party and he was absolutely wonderful. His tunes are smooth and are the perfect backdrop for social settings. I have already booked him for next year's party. An absolute pleasure to work with.
Hired as:
Guitarist
Guitarist
Booking Info
Price Range: $150 and up.
Gig Length: 90 - 240 minutes
Languages: English, Portuguese
About
Simon is a jazz artist working in the Greater Toronto Area. You can find him performing in café and lounge scenes to receptions and corporate events. His experience is not limited to jazz but also includes extensive experience as a choral accompanist, rock guitarist, and private instructor.
He graduated from York University's music program in 2011 and has studied under great local artists such as Mark Eisenman, Alan Henderson, Andrew Scott, Mike Cadó, Casey Sokol and Brian Katz.
His influences include John Petrucci, John Coltrane, Lenny Breau, Wes Montgomery, Ed Bickert, Lorne Lofsky, Pat Martino, Pat Metheny, Ben Monder, Kurt Rosenwinkel; to name a few.
Additional Booking Notes
An armless chair and proximity to electrical outlets necessary.
I can play from the in-house system, but also have my own P.A. if necessary for smaller events.
Services Offered
Past Booked Events
| September 10, 2022 • 6:00pm - 8:00pm | Personal Occasion |
| August 19, 2022 • 4:30pm - 7:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| June 25, 2022 • 7:30pm - 9:00pm | Dinner Party |
| August 14, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| July 25, 2020 • 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Bachelorette Party |
| March 04, 2017 • 6:30pm - 9:30pm | Cocktail Party |
Set List
I perform several jazz standards such as All the Things You Are, On Green Dolphin Street, You Make Me Feel So Young.
I also perform some Latin standards such as Besame Mucho, and Quiet Nights and Quiet Stars.
I also perform some cinema tunes such as Over theRainbow and Moon River.
I also perform some jazz reworkings of classic and contemporary tunes like Kiss from a Rose and Coldplay.
I now also perform original works from my debut album titled Dreamscape. Check out my album on Spotify, Apple music, Amazon music and more!
Influences & Inspiration
Artists that have influenced my playing are:
Joe Pass, Pat Metheney, Ralph Tower, Earl Klugh, Barney Kessel, Pat Martino, Johnny Smith, George Van Eps, Lenney Breau, and Brian Katz.
Setup Requirements
Armless chair.
Proximity to electrical outlets.
A comfortable space of about 7 x 7 ft is preferred.
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