Simmen Collection as a donation

From his early youth, Johnny Simmen (1918-2004) built up a unique collection of books, magazines, documents, several thousand recordings of all kinds and countless of his own publications and lectures. Mostly vinyl LPs. However, he preferred to listen to jazz on 78-rpm shellacs. His collecting activities were not central to his life, but rather his knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of swinging music as well as his acquaintances, indeed his intensive friendships with numerous musicians from Louis Armstrong to Teddy Wilson. In addition, he spread the "jazz message" in talks, lectures, on record covers, in book contributions and articles (thousands of publications in Swiss and international jazz magazines) with unique commitment and always up-to-date expertise.

This invaluable collection was donated to the SwissJazzOrama in Uster by Simmen's daughter, Michèle Pfenninger-Simmen. It will be preserved as a separate, integral Simmen Collection and made accessible to researchers and the public. To this end, experts at SwissJazzOrama are initially compiling an inventory. This will then be published on www.swissjazzorama.ch respectively www.jazzdaten.ch made publicly accessible. Anyone interested in supporting these activities can contact the secretariat in Uster: Tel. 044 940 19 82 or by e-mail: swiss@jazzorama.ch

Photo: Nancy Miller Elliott, NY

Johnny Simmen 1983

Hans-Georg "Johnny" Simmen was born in Brugg AG on April 7, 1918. He grew up there in a well-protected environment. Both his parents played the piano. It was almost a matter of course that Hans-Georg took piano lessons. He knew the many records of classical music in the house almost by heart. Then, at the age of 11, he experienced his finest hour: he happened to hear Louis Armstrong's Alligator Blues with the Hot Seven - and his whole interest suddenly became: jazz! His enthusiasm probably increased even more when he heard Louis Armstrong live at the Zurich Tonhalle in 1934. In 1946, Johnny married Liza Peretti, an equally enthusiastic jazz connoisseur from Geneva. The Simmens continued to enjoy music over the years, as did their countless acquaintances and friendships with jazz musicians and jazz fans.

Simmen was a highly valued, versatile employee at Swissair for 37 years. His in-depth knowledge of passenger needs, reservation systems, international travel regulations and, above all, his diplomatic skills and talent for bringing people together made him the ideal organizer and trouble shooter. Among other things, he was responsible for all of Thomas Mann's family travels. Jazz stars such as Basie, Ellington, Goodman and their bands, Ella Fitzgerald, Buck Clayton, Bill Coleman, Stuff Smith, Rex Stewart and Teddy Wilson not only appreciated his services. They were also happy to be interviewed or welcomed privately by him during their stays in Zurich. For years, he produced a new jazz program every two months for Swissair long-haul flights: two hours of music with short, concise commentaries. In addition to the usual stars, he was always keen to present lesser-known great talents such as Doc Cheatham, Henri Chaix, Dave McKenna, Tab Smith, Maxine Sullivan, Al Casey and Ellis Larkins.

Johnny Simmen also promoted jazz and musicians as the founder and main exponent of various jazz clubs in Zurich, as evidenced by minutes from 1935. He was also a sought-after speaker at foreign clubs and was a jury member at the Zurich Amateur Jazz Festival for seven years.