Venezuelan-born pianist Edward Simon has infused his big-hearted, lyrical jazz sound with the uplifting folkloric melodies and intricate rhythms of his native country. This blend has worked winningly in the repertoire of his vibrant trio with John Patitucci and Brian Blade. While many Latin influences have long flourished in the jazz vocabulary, Venezuela’s rich offerings have been largely overlooked and Simon has sought to remedy that. With the recording debut of his 10-piece Ensemble Venezuela, the pianist’s quest has come to its wholly organic, successful fruition. The suite takes listeners on an aural tour of Simon’s native land. Each movement is based on a characteristic song form or rhythm associated with the Venezuelan city for which the segment is named.

Personnel:

Edward Simon, piano; Adam Cruz, drums; Roberto Koch, bass; Mark Turner, tenor sax; Marco Granados, flute; John Ellis, bass clarinet; Jorge Glem, cuatro; Edmar Castaneda, harp; Luisito Quintero, percussion and Leonardo Granados, maracas.

Included booklet with liner notes.

Recording engineer: Michael Marciano Mixed by Ricardo Landaeta, Jr. Mastered by Bob Katz Robert Mailer-Anderson -Executive Producer