Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Edward Simon was born July 27, 1969 in Punta Cardón, Venezuela and when he was ten years old came to the United States to study at the Performing Arts School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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.

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 in 1994), his debut album as a bandleader, with Horacio Hernández and bass guitarist Anthony Jackson. That 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.

In 2003 Simon formed Ensemble Venezuela to combine jazz with the music of Venezuela. Given a commission by Chamber Music America to write Venezuelan Suite and recorded the album in 2012 with musicians from Venezuela, Colombia, and the U.S. He 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.

Wearing his educator hat 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.

Pianist and composer Edward Simon continues to perform, compose and record.

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