Pianist Edward Simon was born in Punta Cardn, Venezuela. His entire family was composed of musicians, and as a young man, Simon's evident talent led his father to send him to study in the U.S., where he won scholarships in classical piano at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and in jazz at the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Harold Danko. While a student in his teens, Simon performed with Philly guitarist Kevin Eubanks and saxophonist Greg Osby.
Simon moved to New York City in 1989 and began adding a who's who of names to his musical resume: Herbie Mann, Paquito D'Rivera, Bobby Hutcherson, Bobby Watson, Terence Blanchard, Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band, Arturo Sandoval, Many Oquendo & Libre, and Don Byron. He also played in Bobby Watson's popular band Horizon and in the Terence Blanchard Group.
AAJ Contributor and Podcaster Jason Crane spoke with Simon about his recent release Unicity (Cam Jazz, 2006), the road from Venezuela to Oklahoma to New York, and more.
Check out Edward Simon: La Musica Bilinge (Bilingual Music) at AAJ today!
For more information contact All About Jazz.
