Randy Simon Jazz Project

Randy Simon was born and raised in Los Angeles. Although he had piano lessons for a year as a child, and took classical piano lessons for a period while in graduate school, music took a back seat for many years as he built up a successful career as a physicist. “I did not come back to the piano until about 12 years ago when I inherited the grand piano that I grew up with. I had it shipped to the East Coast, completely restored, and I started taking jazz piano lessons. After several years of study with jazz pianist Adrian Cohen, it occurred to me that I was a much more creative writer than I was a pianist. The lessons I took morphed into composition lessons and after a year, I had a handful of tunes that I had written.” His teacher suggested that he record the songs with some top local musicians, and that was the beginning of the Randy Simon Jazz Project.

Since that time, Simon has released five albums (Suspended Motion, Awakening, Light It Up, Nyhavn Live, and now The Linda Sessions) that feature his colorful compositions interpreted by world-class musicians based in Upstate New York. “Each project has been more complex and adventurous than the one before. Every time I complete one of these projects, it makes me want to up the ante for the next one.”

The latest CD, The Linda Sessions, is an exciting program of modern jazz, filled with fresh original melodies, lively solos, and enthusiastic playing.

Album Reviews

The Linda Sessions by Dan McClenaghan

Take Five With...

Take Five With Randy Simon

Album Reviews

Nyhavn Live by Nicholas F. Mondello
Light It Up by Alexander M. Stern
Awakening by Alexander M. Stern

January 29, 2013

Randy Simon Jazz Project Releases "Nyhavn Live"

July 02, 2010

Randy Simon Jazz Project Releases "Light It Up"

”Nyhavn Live is an outstanding performance by a group of terrific musicians and a composer of significant talent and potential.” —Nick Mondello at AllAboutJazz

“Simon's compositions and arrangements are extraordinary. Complex yet completely accessible, he paints dazzling portraits in sound, creating perfect launching points for his soloists. Light It Up, Simon's fourth album since 2008, continues a run of exceptional albums that present modern jazz at its best.”

“Awakening, the third recording of Simon's compositions, not only features outstanding performances by the cream of New York's Capital Region jazz scene, but also well-written, memorable tunes that make this album an exciting listening experience