One of the leading jazz artists from Latin America and perhaps best known as a member of the SF Jazz Collective, award-winning Venezuelan composer and pianist Edward Simon makes good use of both his jazz chops and his Latin background on his latest release, Las Femeninas, Songs of Latin American Women, which features jewels from the Latin American songbook—all by female songwriters—in exquisite jazz settings. In addition to those songs, Simon’s Latino Soy suite graces the album with three original compositions. Simon’s trio, with Reuben Rogers on bass and Adam Cruz on drums, will bring that music to the Outpost this week, along with two guest artists, Grammy-nominated Mexican vocalist Magos Herrera and Venezuelan percussionist Luis Quintero.
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Something Brand-New from Pianist Markus Gottschlich and Something Brand-Old from Pianist Edward Simon
Markus Gottschlich’s keen mind, lively imagination, and positive energy helped rejuvenate the New Mexico Jazz Workshop during his all too brief residence as its executive director in 2019. Those same qualities inform his compositional skills, and his dazzling pianism gives full rein to his expressive spirit, as heard on his latest recording, Found Sounds (available November 27). With 25 Years, Edward Simon treats us to a self-curated tour through some of the high points of his two and a half decades of recorded work, reminding us that he deserves to be ranked among the foremost practitioners of his art.
Continue readingSteel House Offers Intelligence and Grace at the Outpost
Steel House, a leaderless trio made up of Edward Simon (piano, keyboards), Scott Colley (bass), and Brian Blade (drums, pump organ), offers expressive original music whose inviting transparency is suffused with intelligence and grace. On Friday, November 15, the trio will grace the stage at the Outpost for what promises to be a highlight of the musical season.
Continue readingNew Releases: Edward Simon and Zoltán Székely Entwine Multiple Traditions
Both Venezuelan pianist/composer Edward Simon and Hungarian-American singer/songwriter Zoltán Székely combine different musical influences into a unique voice, but with very different results. Continue reading
Cultural Celebrations
Edward Simon, Venezuelan Suite (Sunnyside Records)
Danilo Pérez, Panama 500 (Mack Avenue Records)
A Review
Two top-drawer Latin-American pianists, Venezuelan Edward Simon and Panamanian Danilo Pérez, take different approaches to celebrating their respective heritages on their recent
releases. Simon seamlessly integrates Venezuela’s folkloric traditions with those of jazz. Pérez works in a more painterly manner, adding touches of Panamanian color to his jazz-based
compositions. Continue reading