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Marlon Simon

Educator, Percussionist, Composer Marlon Simon was born in the small town of Punta Cardón, Falcón state, Venezuela. His first contact with music, at the age of 10, came from his father, Hadsy Simon, a philosopher with deep insights into spiritualism and metaphysics, and guitarist and vocalist. “Whenever we had a visitor my father used to take his guitar out and invite me to join him, playing on a little bongo. Later on, I drove him nuts. When I reached the age of 15, he bought me a set of timbales. I learned most of the Latin rudiments on my own. Listening mostly to dance bands, salsa, merengue and other South American dance music styles helped me begin playing with top local bands in the area, Marlon says. By the time he was 18, Marlon had organized his own band and had begun performing locally at concerts and clubs, sometimes opening for major national acts. His interest in jazz was sparked when he was 19 and a friend brought him a video he had recorded of Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea and Miroslav Vitous, and others. Marlon also quickly became hooked, and with an abiding interest in jazz and African-originated music he came to the United States in 1987 and began formal studies on drums at The University of The Arts in Philadelphia. In 1988, he received a grant from the Philadelphia Music Foundation. He moved to New York in 1989, and later obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music from the New School for Social Research. During his studies, Marlon worked locally in the city, developing his unique style and gaining the respect of noted jazz and Latin musicians.

Marlon has also worked with such luminaries as Hilton Ruíz, Dave Valentin, Jerry González, Chucho Valdés and Bobby Watson to mention a few. After several years, he formed his own Latin jazz ensemble, Marlon Simon and The Nagual Spirits. With his own group Marlon got the opportunity to showcase his talents as a composer and drummer, defining a distinct approach to Latin Jazz. As a leader Marlon has since released: The Music of Marlon Simon (K-Jazz, 1999), followed by Rumba a la Patato (Cubop Records 2000) and Live in La Paz, Bolivia (Intrigue Records, 2005) and later In Case You Missed It (Jazzheads, 2006). After spending much time in France, Marlon forged an alliance with several local musicians and produced two critically received recordings. These are: French Latin Jazz Project - Afrocuban & Live (Chantilly Negra Productions, 2008) and Venezuelan French Project (Proyecto Venezolano Francés) - Racines (Raíces) (Chantilly Negra Productions, 2011). The 2008 recording is a prodigious example of excellence in  Latin Jazz while the 2011 recording reflects the collision between Venezuelan and French-Celtic-Music. Marlon’s music has frequently taken him around the globe apart from France to Canada, Poland, Australia, Netherland Antilles, USA and, of course, various countries in South America.

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Album Review

Marlon Simon: In Case You Missed It

Read "In Case You Missed It" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


In Case You Missed It is percussionist Marlon Simon's fourth album over the past ten years. His brother, trumpeter Michael, appears on two tunes while his better-known sibling, pianist Edward, is on all but one of the album's nine tracks.

Edward Simon has recorded extensively with altoist Bobby Watson's Horizon, as well as on a number of recordings including the highly praised Oceanos(Criss Cross, 2007), co-led with altoist David Binney. Marlon's group, The Nagual Spirits, varies in size ...

129
Album Review

Marlon Simon: In Case You Missed It

Read "In Case You Missed It" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


Many jazz fans are probably more familiar with pianist Edward Simon than his talented siblings Michael (trumpet) and Marlon (drums). But brother Marlon's aptly titled In Case You Missed It might help to change that. The fact that Marlon Simon is an impressive percussionist and composer quickly surfaces with this fourth recording, leading his eclectic band, Nagual Spirits. While much of Latin jazz has been culled from the historic Afro-Latin and American jazz melting pot, there have ...

127
Album Review

Marlon Simon: Rumba A La Patato

Read "Rumba A La Patato" reviewed by Jim Santella


Bobby Watson and Brian Lynch stand out on this Latin jam session led by drummer Marlon Simon. It's his second album, made up largely of the leader's own compositions. Younger brother Edward Simon guests on three tracks, while youngest brother Michael guests on the two that he composed. Marlon Simon, who was born in Venezuela, successfully combines equal portions of Latin music with jazz music to form Latin jazz. The essential ingredients are the swing, the loose improvisation, and the ...

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Recording

Marlon Simon: On Different Paths

Marlon Simon: On Different Paths

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Harry Sepulveda has great taste in Latin music, especially Latin-jazz. He should, considering that for decades he managed Record Mart, the Latin record store that first opened in 1958 and stood in the Times Square subway station near the Grand Central shuttle. I first met Harry in the 1970s when the record shop was located several steps down from the shuttle, near the BMT line, where the N and the RR stopped. Back then, I pored over the bins, asking ...

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Performance / Tour

Marlon Simon at the Painted Bride Art Center on December 1, 2007

Marlon Simon at the  Painted Bride Art Center on December 1, 2007

Source: All About Jazz

The Painted Bride Art Center host will the Philadelphia premiere of Marlon Simon's new work “Passing By" performed by an incredible 13 member ensemble. Moving beyond standard Latin jazz formats, Marlon blends Afro-Cuban drumming and Afro-Venezuelan traditions with his Nagual Spirits sextet augmented by a bata section and a string quartet. Once a sideman to such jazz luminaries as Jerry Gonzales, Chucho Valdez, and Bobby Watson, Marlon Simon is now an internationally known jazz percussionist, composer and educator.

Painted Bride ...

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Award / Grant

Marlon Simon & The Nagual Spirits awarded CMA Grant

Marlon Simon & The Nagual Spirits awarded CMA Grant

Source: All About Jazz

Chamber Music America has selected Marlon Simon and his ensemble, The Nagual Spirits, as recipients of the “New Works: Creation and Presentation" grant--a competitive program in which the CMA commissions and presents new works in the jazz idiom, recognizing both established and emerging artists.

Marlon Simon and The Nagual Spirits will present “The Nagual Suite," with the support from Chamber Music America's New Work: Creation and Presentation program, funded though the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Marlon Simon ...

"... the time has come for Mr. Simon to come back to the musical scene, with new ideas and projects, with renewed energy and commitment to his primary artistic profession, to his purpose in life as a dedicated performer and educator. And it is with great excitement that we announce today the revival of Marlon Simon and The Nagual Spirits." 
– Raul Da Gama, latinjazznet.com

“This Latin jazz platter sizzles with Marlon Simon’s percussion. Marlon, who has written a half dozen tunes, creates a set that’s impassioned without being loud.” 
– Karl Stark, The Philadelphia Inquirer 

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Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

Houston

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Marlon Simon has appeared in numerous recordings with other well known jazz greats. Parallel to his career as a performer, Simon has also become recognized as an in-demand educator as a specialist in Afro-Caribbean rhythms. He has conducted workshops, master classes and seminars at Temple University, Penn State University, Rutgers University, the New Jersey ABC conference for public school teachers, the University of the Arts and Perkings Center for the Arts

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percussion

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

On Different Paths

Truth Revolution Records
2024

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Walking

From: On Different Paths
By Marlon Simon

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