Contact
Departments
Courses Taught
Applied Lessons
RJAM Theory
Ensembles
SFJAZZ Collective
Edward Simon Trio
Afinidad
Awards and Distinctions
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album
Simon is an important presence on the jazz and world music scene.”
Q&A
What is your hometown?
Emeryville, CA
What are you passionate about outside of music?
Meditation and yoga.
Who were your major teachers?
Susan Star and Sophia Rosoff.
What is a favorite quote that you repeatedly tell students?
"To be a good player, learn to be a good listerner."
What was the defining moment when you decided to pursue music as a career?
I was about 10 years old playing in a dance band. The joy and thrill of connecting with dancers on the dance floor changed me forever.
If you weren't a musician or teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?
I would be a Buddhist monk.
What is your daily practice routine?
I usually start by playing some scales and arpeggios to warm up. Then I play some classical pieces, which usually includes a work by Bach. Finally, I practice improvisation.
If you could play only three composers for the rest of your life, who would they be?
F. Mompou, J.S. Bach, and Arvo Pärt.
What are your most important collaborations?
SFJAZZ Collective, Paquito D'Rivera, and Steel House (with Scott Colley and Brian Blade).
What recordings can we hear you on?
Latin American Songbook
Venezuelan Suite
Poesia
Unicity
La Bikina
What is your unrealized project?
A solo piano recording.
Biography
Praised by DownBeat as “one of the strongest pianists of his generation,” awarding-winning artist and composer Edward Simon has become an irrepressible force in modern music. Throughout his accomplished career, the Venezuela-born Bay Area artist has refined his sound by exploring its pluralisms and by fostering global connections on and off the bandstand.
Grounded in the moment and wired for exploration, Simon’s expression leans into different styles from Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States, treating their elements and traditions as inextricably related and universal. His technical mastery continues expanding, as does his emotional resonance and his social impact. He’s a storyteller. Lithe and beautiful, guttural and lamenting — his music courts tension even beyond harmony and rhythm, renewing his legacy of artistry, advocacy and true creative expression.
Edward Simon in the News
