(Reprinted in the November 2020 issue of Downbeat magazine)
Over the course of pianist Edward Simon’s lengthy career, his profile as a go-to sideman rose with gigs for heavy-hitters like trumpeter Terrance Blanchard and saxophonist Greg Osby. His own catalogue as a leader—13 albums over almost a quarter of a century—has received less attention. But the coming release, 25 Years (Ridgeway Records), will go a long way to correct this lapse.
For this elegant two-disc retrospective Simon gathered 17 tracks from his extensive songbook; all but five are his original compositions. These carefully constructed pieces speak to the fascinations of Simon’s musical upbringing—the beats of Venezuela, where he was born, the rigors of his classical training in the U.S., and the jazz idioms of his adopted country.
These influences play out differently, depending on the setting. The first disc, featuring mostly small ensembles with a prominent rhythm section, introduces several of Simon’s modern jazz song concepts: fleet, angular soloing against thrashing congas on “Fiestas”; an impassioned melody and subtle pulse on “Simplicity”; and the odd-meter, harmonically expansive “Pere.”
It’s on the second disc, though, through several large ensemble works, that Simon unveils the full breadth of his musical vision. A woodwinds suite tenders a mellifluent symphonic theme before Simon launches into an accelerating piano solo on “Uninvited Thoughts.” A warm-toned brass quartet plays against irrepressible polyrhythms on “Venezuela Unidad.” And a ferocious harp solo (Edmar Castaneda)—along with quicksilver flute lines, a combustible rhythm section, and roiling percussion—recommend “Barinas,” one of the most intoxicating selections on the release and an object lesson in how to pack 25 years of jazz excellence into nine minutes. DB