Marlon Simon | en

Marlon Simon, Latin jazz percussionist, composer and educator, born in Venezuela March 15, 1961. Came to the U.S. in 1987 and started taking his first formal lesson on the drum set. He attended The University of The Arts in Philadelphia while working locally in the city. In 1988 received a grant from the Philadelphia music foundation in recognition of achievement and potential in music.

In 1989 he moved to New York and obtained his Bachelor degree in jazz and contemporary music from the New School for Social Research. Already in New York, he began the arduous process of building a career as a Latin jazz drummer, after working locally in the city he developed a unique style, later on coveted by the most prestigious in the Latin and jazz field. His work experience includes performances with Hilton Ruiz, Dave Valentin, Jerry Gonzalez, Chucho Valdez and Bobby Watson and now leading his own Latin jazz ensemble Marlon Simon and the Nagual Spirits. With his band Marlon gets the opportunity to present his talents as a composer and as a drummer defining a distinct approach to Latin Jazz. He has released two projects as a leader, "The Music of Marlon Simon," and "Rumba a la Patato."

Parallel to his career as a performer, he has also developed a reputation as an educator. His practical experience and several research trips makes him a specialist in the field of Afrocaribbean rhythms. His professional experience includes workshops and seminars at Temple University, Penn State University, the Episcopal Academy, Medford Memorial Middle, Rutgers University, the New Jersey ABC conference for public school teachers, and is presently an instructor in the Latin American Musician Association, the University of the Arts and Perkings Center for the Arts. He has been invited as artist in the residence to numerous public and private schools in the tri state area and abroad. He was named a Distinguished Teaching Artist for FY 2001. This acknowledges that he has received the highest possible review from extraordinary resource he provides as an artist of the highest caliber and an educator of great skills, an award officially recognized by The New Jersey State Council Of The Arts where he also works as a consultant and clinician.


Today, Marlon Simon 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 Valentin, Jerry Gonzalez, Chucho Valdes, 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".
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