Edward Simon (musician)


Edward Simon is a Venezuelan jazz pianist and composer.

Early life

Simon was born in Punta Cardón, Venezuela. When he was ten years old, he went to the United States of America to study at the Performing Arts School in Philadelphia. After graduating, he attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he studied classical piano, then the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied jazz piano.

Later life and career

In 1988, he recorded as a sideman with Greg Osby, then worked as a member of the band Horizon led by Bobby Watson. For the next eight years he was a member of Terence Blanchard's band. He has also worked with Herbie Mann, Paquito D'Rivera, Bobby Hutcherson, Jerry Gonzalez, John Patitucci, Arturo Sandoval, Manny Oquendo, and Don Byron.
Simon recorded Beauty Within, his first album as a bandleader, with Horacio Hernández and bass guitarist Anthony Jackson. During the same year, he was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. Then the following year he composed Rumba Neurotica for the Relache Ensemble.
He formed Ensemble Venezuela in 2003 to combine jazz with the music of Venezuela. He was given a commission by Chamber Music America to write "Venezuelan Suite". He recorded the album in 2012 with musicians from Venezuela, Colombia, and the U.S.
Simon has played on several Grammy-nominated jazz albums. Besides his trio he leads the Sexteto Venezuela, the Afinidad Quartet, and the group Simon, Simon, & Simon with his brothers. He has taught at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City and has been artist in residence at Western Michigan University.

Discography

;As leader
YearAlbumRecord labelSession musicians
1994Beauty WithinAudioQuestHoracio Hernández, Anthony Jackson, Diego Urcola
1995Edward SimonKokopelliLarry Grenadier, Adam Cruz, Mark Turner, Milton Cardona
1998La BikinaMythologyAdam Cruz, Ben Street, Mark Turner, David Binney, Pernell Saturnino, Diego Urcola, Milton Cardona
2001AfinidadRedDavid Binney, Scott Colley, Brian Blade, Adam Cruz, Lucia Pulido, Adam Rogers
2003The ProcessCriss CrossJohn Patitucci, Eric Harland
2005Fiestas de AgostoRedDavid Binney, Donny McCaslin
2005SimplicitasCriss CrossAvishai Cohen, Adam Cruz, Luciana Souza, Adam Rogers, Pernell Saturnino
2006UnicityCAM JazzJohn Patitucci, Brian Blade
2007OcéanosCriss CrossDavid Binney, Scott Colley, Brian Blade, Luciana Souza, Adam Rogers, Shane Endsley, Jesse Newman, Alan Ferber, Pernell Saturnino
2009PoesiaCAM JazzJohn Patitucci, Brian Blade
2010Danny BoyAudio & Video LabsPhilip Donkin, Stephen Keogh
2013Live in New York at Jazz StandardSunnysideJohn Patitucci, Brian Blade
2014Venezuelan SuiteSunnyside-
2016Latin American SongbookSunnyside-

;As sideman
With Craig Handy
With Greg Osby
With Terence Blanchard