Edward Simon

Edward Simon, a native of Venezuela, is a distinguished jazz improviser, composer-arranger, and bandleader whose work seamlessly blends jazz with Latin American folkloric traditions. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Simon is a longtime member of the all-star SFJAZZ Collective and a Yamaha artist. Over his illustrious career, he has earned prestigious accolades, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, multiple grants from Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works program, and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album.

Simon has released 17 albums as a leader or co-leader, earning acclaim for his innovative compositions and profound artistry. His latest release, Femeninas: Songs of Latin American Women (2023), celebrates the music of iconic female Latin American artists, showcasing his ability to reimagine cultural heritage through a contemporary jazz lens. Earlier works, such as Latin American Songbook (2016), praised for its “grand and sophisticated” sound by DownBeat, have cemented Simon’s reputation as a visionary artist.

A 2024 recipient of Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works grant, Simon continues to expand the boundaries of jazz. His forthcoming multi-disciplinary work, When Dogs Howl, funded by the Zellerbach Family Foundation and Creative Work Fund, in partnership with SFJAZZ, explores the resilience of migrants and refugees through jazz big band, Afro-Venezuelan percussion, storytelling, dance, and immersive video. With a career defined by innovation and cultural celebration, Simon remains a leading voice in modern jazz.