Caracas is a lively Venezuelan merengue originally written for Ensemble Venezuela. As recorded on Edward Simon’s album Venezuelan Suite.

Duration: 6:27

Instrumentation: piano, acoustic bass, drum set, tenor saxophone, flute, bass clarinet, cuatro, harp, percussion and maracas.

This set contains all four pieces of Edward Simon’s Venezuelan Suite: “Barinas,” “Caracas,” “Merida” and “Maracaibo.” Each of its four movements is based on a different Venezuelan genre: joropo, merengue, valse and gaita. As recorded on the album Venezuelan Suite (Sunnyside).

Barinas is a lively Venezuelan joropo was composed by Edward Simon as part of his ground braking Venezuelan Suite. It features extended sections for improvisation from piano, cuatro, bass and harp.

Duration: Ca. 9’

Parts included: flute, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, harp, piano, cuatro, acoustic bass, drum set, percussion and maracas.

Merida is a melancholic, heartfelt Venezuelan waltz. As recorded on the album Venezuelan Suite. This pieces features a hauntingly beautiful introduction on bass clarinet played by John Ellis and a piano and a tenor sax solo.  

Duration: 7'

Parts included:

• Flute

• Tenor Sax

• Bass clarinet

• Piano

• Bass

• Drums

• Cuatro

• Maracas

“Maracaibo” is a gaita, a percussive Venezuelan genre it serves as the finale for Edward Simon’s Venezuelan Suite. As recorded on the album Venezuelan Suite. This pieces features an extended tenor saxophone solo played by Mark Turner and percussion solo.

Duration: 5’45”

Parts included:

• Flute

• Tenor Sax

• Bass clarinet

• Piano

• Bass

• Drums

• Cuatro

• Percussion

• Maracas