Michael’s musical background goes back to Punta Cardón (his native
town), in Venezuela in the 80s when he was only ten years old already
jamming with his brothers. His musical studies cover a wide spectrum,
first in Cuba where he went to the Ignacio Cervantes music school to
study trumpet ... then the Rotterdam conservatory of music in Holland
where he obtained his arranging and composition degree in 2002.
For the past ten years Michael travels all the world's festivals and
stages as a side man trumpeter for Fra Fra Sound, Conexion Latina,
Gerardo Rosales and Lucas van Merwijk & The Cubop City Big Band, as
well as with his own formations: Crianzas, a multi-origin Caribbean
jazz quartet and Michael Simon & Roots United, a Latin jazz septet
with which he release a critically acclaimed CD production entitled
“Revelación” (2004 Pramisi Records/BMCD 442).
Michael’s intensive career as a prolific composer and arranger
includes a wide spectrum of genres and formations. He received a
composition assignment grant on 4 occasions from the Dutch “Fund for
Creative Tone Arts”, and provided works for Marlon Simon & The Nagual
Spirits, Fra Fra Sound, Fra Fra Big Band, Rotterdam Symphonic Jazz
Orchestra, Deborah J. Carter Big Band, Rotterdams Conservatory Big
Band and wrote all music for the music/theater play “Virus”. Michael
continues to stretch his creative boundaries with original works for
his own projects and formations.
