| MARLON
SIMON "RUMBA A LA PATATO"
Marlon
Simon, composer and educator, was born in Venezuela March 15,
1961. His work experience includes performances with Hilton Ruiz,
Dave Valentin, Jerry Gonzalez, Chucho Valdez, Bobby Watson, and
now leading his own Latin jazz ensemble, Marlon Simon and the
Nagual Spirits.
Today he is considered a top scholar and musician in the
field of Latin jazz. He released a critically-acclaimed debut
album along with his band, the Nagual Spirits, in 1998 titled
"The Music of Marlon Simon"--noted by Latin Beat Magazine
as one of the best Latin jazz productions of the year. He has
also taught workshops and seminars at Temple University, Penn
State, and the Episcopal Academy, as well as being the current
instructor in the Latin American Musician Association, University
of the Arts, and Perkins Center for the Arts. He has also authored
Analyzing Latin Rhythms - Methods for Percussionists.
CuBop is proud to release his follow-up CD, "Rumba
A La Patato", which he personally considers "one of
the best Latin jazz productions to come out." It is on this
record, he claims, that he really begins to hear his own voice
on percussion as well as a composer. "These are original
compositions where I developed the right balance between jazz
and Latin rhythms, expanding this style to the limits, but without
losing their identity," he says. Never one to over feature
himself, the focus lies on elaborated jazz progressions and improvisations
combined with the flavor of the Afro-Caribbean rhythms.
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