Edward Simon, a native of Venezuela, is among the strongest pianists of his generation. With his trio, he continues to explore the commonalities jazz can have with the folkloric sounds of Latin America. His 2016 album Latin American Songbook, with the four-and-a-half-star DownBeat review praising its “grand and sophisticated” sound, won Simon an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album. The New York Times has praised Simon’s “light, warm touch” as a pianist, while Jazz Journal International singled out “his deep emotional statements” as a composer and improviser.