By Frank Alkyer | Published March 2026
There’s an elegance to the music of pianist and composer Edward Simon, whose love affair with the music of Latin America comes to him naturally as a native of Venezuela. He demonstrates his affection for the music of his homeland beautifully on Venezuela: Latin American Songbook Vol. 2. With this second volume, Simon takes a more focused approach to presenting the Latin American songbook he so adores. The first installment culled material from the breadth of South America — Astor Piazolla’s Argentina, Antônio Carlos Jobim’s Brazil, for example — with a Cubano bolero here, a bossa nova there and a selection of songs from Puerto Rico, Chile and his own beloved Venezuela. On Vol. 2, Simon’s spotlight shines squarely on his home country.
And what a time it is to release such an album. With the U.S. capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, it’s muy interesante that the opening track, “Presagio,” which translates to omen in English, takes a slightly ominous, yet beautiful, tone. Although it came out well in advance of Maduro’s capture, Simon might have a slight bit of fortune-teller to his credit. From that launch pad, Simon with the help of his incredibly talented trio mates Ruben Rogers on bass and Adam Cruz on drums deliver an exquisite, six-tune set. “Atardecer,” translated to sunset, brings the feel and form of the close of a day. It’s a gorgeous ballad featuring Simon’s always elegant pianism and a to-die-for solo by Rogers. With “Dama Antañona,” Simon and company rework a nostalgic waltz written in the early 1900s by Venezuelan composer Francisco de Paula Aguirre. Clocking in at nearly 18 minutes, this triumphant number may not be the title piece of the album, but it’s certainly the centerpiece. “Anhelante” features another beautiful bass solo by Rogers. The understated touch of drummer Cruz lays perfectly into the arc of the music. The crowd-pleaser “El Vuelo de la Mosca” may be a Brazilian choro, but it becomes the property of this Venezuela-themed set with guest Jackeline Rago jumping in on the cuatro, a four-string folk instrument often associated with Venezuelan music. It’s also the tune on which Simon shines brightest (and that’s saying something). He overflows with rapid-fire fingers all the while maintaining an incredibly smooth flow over the piano keys. Venezuela: Latin American Songbook Vol. 2 ends with “Sabana,” an achingly slow ballad that drives home the emotions of a very troubled land.
“This music is part of who I am,” Simon wrote in his press materials. “With Vol. 2, I wanted to go deeper, to offer an immersive listening experience that honors the original songs while bringing them into the trio’s expressive language.” He succeeds, and then some.
