MARLON SIMON

The life path of Marlon Simon has always been clearly laid out in front of him. He was put on this earth to eat, breath, and live Latin rhythms. Born in Venezuela on March 15, 1961 into a musical family, his father stressed at an early age the importance of music for healthy and meaningful life. Young Marlon would sing along to his fathers Boleros as far back as he can remember, and when he turned 12, his father bought him a set of Timbales and congas. From then on, Marlon has been hooked.
   
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 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, and has performed with the likes of Hilton Ruiz, Dave Valentine, Jerry Gonzalez, Chucho Valdez, and Bobby Watson. 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 loosing 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.
   
Musicians for the album were carefully chosen, as he needed musicians who could express themselves comfortably in both styles--a difficult thing to accomplished, but done with ease by seasoned vets such as Bobby Watson, Brian Lynch, and Andy Gonzales., as well as young blood such as John Benitez, Luis Perdomo, and his brother Edward Simon.