Edward Simon
The process by which Simon became an internationally regarded jazz musician began in the small coastal town of Cardón, Venezuela, where he grew up surrounded by the sounds of Latin and Caribbean music. Born in 1969, Simon credits his father, Hadsy, for developing his passion for music and supporting him and his two brothers, Marlon and
He attended the Philadelphia Performing Arts School, graduating at 15, then received a music scholarship from the University of the Arts where he studied classical music with concert pianist Susan Starr. Later he transferred to the Manhattan School of Music where he studied jazz piano with Harold Danko.
Upon arriving on the New York jazz scene in 1989, his reputation as a pensive, rhythmically astute, versatile player caught the ear of noted musicians Greg Osby,
Simon made his first recording as a leader in 1994 (Beauty Within, Audioquest), giving birth to the Edward Simon Trio—the same year he took third place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. Since then he has founded, established and served as musical director of several jazz ensembles such as: the Edward Simon Quartet, Ensemble Venezuela and Afinidad. Today, the Edward Simon Trio has become an established voice with five recordings and recent performances at such well-known jazz venues as the Village Vanguard, Jazz Bakery and Casa del Jazz.
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Album Review
- 25 Years by Dan McClenaghan
- Sorrows & Triumphs by Angelo Leonardi
- Sorrows & Triumphs by Friedrich Kunzmann
- Sorrows & Triumphs by Jerome Wilson
- Sorrows & Triumphs by Dan Bilawsky
- Latin American Songbook by Angelo Leonardi
- Venezuelan Suite by Angelo Leonardi
- Venezuelan Suite by Dan Bilawsky
Extended Analysis
Take Five With...
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Enter the "Edward Simon Trio - Live in New York at Jazz Standard"...
He doesn't go in for dazzle and fleet-fingered runs but contents himself with digging in and mining the music for drama and invention. He often turns these rural sounds into deep emotional statements. —Jazz Journal International
Simon is an important presence on the jazz and world music scene. —Los Angeles Times
Primary Instrument
Piano
Location
San Francisco
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
Pianist Edward Simon is an experienced educator who has conducted numerous clinics, master classes and workshops around the world, including the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada (2008); the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki (2006); NOCA, New Orleans, LA (2006); Temple University, Philadelphia, PA; East Stroudsburg University, PA; the Music Conservatory at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, MI; City College of New York; EAFIT Universidad Abierta, Medellín, Colombia, WMF Jazz Summer School and Arts Festival, Certaldo, Italy (2008|2009) and the Cork Music Academy, Cork, Ireland (2010). In 2009 Simon was a guest lecturer at New York University, discussing the compositional process of his “Venezuelan Suite”. In 2008 Simon was visiting professor at IUDEM, Caracas, Venezuela, as part of the Fulbright Senior Specialist Program. He has worked as adjunct faculty at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA (1996-2001) and currently teaches students from the New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music in New York. Simon has twice received a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service to Jazz Education (International Association of Jazz Educators, 1999 & 2004). In 2007, he was guest resident artist at Ursinus College and guest lecturer at Rutgers University. This year he was resident artist with the Simón Bolivar Big Band in Caracas, Venezuela and at Langnau Jazz Nights Festival, Langnau, Switzerland. Since 2010, Simon is Visiting Jazz Artist at Western Michigan University. He is currently Resident Artist at the Brubeck Institute. In an ensemble setting, Edward shows students how to develop a group sound and the necessary listening skills to play in a more interactive way. He teaches students how to correctly interpret and incorporate Latin American rhythms and styles into a jazz setting. Utilizing improvisation as a basis, Simon shows students how the compositional process can be instrumental in finding your voice as an artist. Simon has received numerous awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship (2010) and a MacDowell Fellowship (2011). He is currently a member of the SFJAZZ Collective, a prominent musician/composer jazz ensemble dedicated to creating new work and highlighting the music of historically significant jazz composers of the modern era. The Collective is comprised of “eight of the most in-demand” (New York Times) artists performing today. Edward Simon teaches privately. Hourly rate: $150
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