The Process is the name of the latest album Edward Simons made on the Criss Cross Jazz label, his first straight-ahead jazz album as a band leader. Before this album the pianist made more Latin-inspired jazz albums like La Bikina, released in 1998. Here he showed his cross-over talent for combining Afro-Caribbean rhythms and traditional folk with jazz. Edward Simon was born in Venezuela. His father imparted his love for music. His youth is marked by making music with his brothers. A video of Chick Corea with Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Getz changed his life. He went to America to study classical music and got a job in the trio of Charles Fambrough. Later he gained experience with established names like Greg Osby, Kevin Eubanks and Bobby Watson, with whom he toured for five years. In 1994 Terence Blanchard asked him to occupy the empty piano-seat and Simon had an important share in the new sound of the band. This year Edward Simon will tour with John Patitucci, who is accompanying Simon on the album, and new plans have been made for another trio-album in 2004.
