TWO NIGHTS OF FUN!

Happy 2016! It’s already started off brilliantly and next week is going to be special with these two events going down:

 

HODGEPODGE at GENERAL LEE’S w/ Todd Simon, GLK, Jeremy Sole, Computer Jay, Carlos Nino, Te’amir Sweeney + very special guests!

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HODGEPODGE at GENERAL LEE’S – FREE
DJ’s playing instruments/Musicians spinning records
mixing it all up into one big music celebration!
w/ Todd Simon, GLK, Jeremy Sole, Computer Jay, Carlos Nino, Te’Amir Sweeney + very special guests

9pm – 2am

General Lee’s 475 Gin Ling Way Chinatown 90012

Our 1st HODGEPODGE was insane (see pic below)!

Don’t miss the 2nd installment featuring some exciting special guests who happen to be in town!

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NuTropic w/ Chico Mann, Todd Simon, Ohmega Watts + Mano, Maple Syrup, Seano

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I’m excited to spin an all-45 set of mainly African Funk w/ friends Chico Mann and Ohmega Watts on the decks as well!

The 4th installment of NuTropic comes correct in 2016 – residents Mano, Maple Syrup and Seano

continue to take you on a new tropical journey….respect to Charlie B Wilder aka Captain Planet,

CanyonazoLa JuntaTyson NewLifeGazoo, and TheFunky Brewsterz for holding us down in 2015

The Short Stop | Echo Park, LA, CA | 9pm | GRATIS

January guests:
// Chico Mann (Antibalas)
// Todd M. Simon – Trumpeter/Arranger (Ethio Cali)
// Ohmega Watts (Mellow Orange Music / Ubiquity Records)

foto: Eric Coleman / Mochilla

 

FREE SUMMER CONCERTS in LA

FREE Summer Concerts in LA
FREE Summer Concerts in LA

Once again, Los Angeles is blessed with a slew of amazing FREE concerts. I’m proud to be a part of many. Here’s what’s on the books. I hope to see you there:

June 12 – Angel City All-Star Brass Band/Zoom B @ Levitt Pavilion MacArthur Park | 8:00pm FREE
http://www.levittla.org/2014-concert-calendar/

July 9 – ETHIO CALI @ Wells Fargo Center |12:00 – 1:15 PM FREE
http://artsbrookfield.com/event/ethio-cali/#.U3pLLl7jKNs

July 12 – The Decoders: Minnie Riperton Tribute Concert @ Grand Performances |8:00pm FREE
http://www.grandperformances.org/events/adventures-from-paradise-a-tribute-to-minnie-riperton-2/

July 18 – Chop and Quench (FELA! Band) performing Fela Kuti’s influential “69 Los Angeles Sessions” in its entirety @
Grand Performances |2 shows: 12:00pm & 8:00pm FREE
http://www.grandperformances.org/events/chop-and-quench-2/
http://www.grandperformances.org/events/chop-and-quench-3/

August 7 – Wondem (Dexter Story’s modern-east african project) @ Levitt Pavilion MacArthur Park | 8:00pm FREE
http://www.levittla.org/myron-e-and-wondem-band/

 

Ziggy Marley

Ziggy Marley -Fly Rasta Horns arranged/recorded by Todd M. Simon
horns arranged/recorded by Todd M. Simon

2014 continues to be magical with the upcoming release of Ziggy Marley’s new album Fly Rasta. I was enlisted to assemble a horn section featuring Geoff Gallegos, Tracy Wannomae and Fabio Santana de Souza and bring Ziggy Marley’s brilliant horn lines to life. You can check out the first single, featuring the one and only U-Roy, here:

 

We tracked the horns at the legendary Village Studios in West Los Angeles.

It was a true honor to work on this project. I cannot wait to share more of the music from these sessions.

 

~ Todd

The Angel City All Star Brass Band – Sidama De Cali

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I’m ecstatic to announce the debut single under my own name featuring The Angel City All Star Brass Band. Sidama De Cali is a 50/50 blend of Ethiopian and Colombian music inspired by custom coffee blends that I brew. The mixtures of music from various cultures are just as delicious and unifying as the subtle tones and hints that I sip on at home. The lovely Jazz & Milk label has decided to feature my track on a new compilation titled Footprints. Sidama… is the inspiration for my Ethiopian-Jazz ensemble Ethio Cali and is interpreted by my 21-piece horn and percussion Banda.Continue reading “The Angel City All Star Brass Band – Sidama De Cali”

New Quadron Video

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Long-time collaborators Quadron just released a new video for the track “Favorite Star” off of their recent album Avalanche featuring my Brassive Attack horn section: Tracy Wannomae (winds), Elizabeth Lea (trombone) and Pablo Calogeo (winds). Avalanche is a special album with lush vocals, grooves, and textures. Coco O and Robin Hannibal are musical geniuses. Peep this sexy clip courtesy of  OkayPlayer.com:

 

Kelis!

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I’m proud to announce that I am the music director for Kelis. I worked extensively on her new album, FOOD, along with producer extraordinaire Dave Sitek providing horn and string arrangements in addition to recording brass. This record has been so much fun to work on. It features some of the finest musicians in LA.

The horns are such a big part of the sound, Kelis has asked me to direct both UK and US bands. I am excited and eager to be a part of this experience. Kelis has always been one of my favorite contemporary vocalists with her brilliant tastes and always impressive voice. It’s a treat working with her. We see eye-to-eye and share the same musical sensibilities.

You can hear Jerk Ribs and Rumble here.

Upcoming performances:

Feb. 28th – BBC 6 Music Festival, Manchester, UK; March 3rd – Metropolis Studios, London, UK

March 12-14 – SXSW (various venues to TBA)

April 21 – Late Night w/ David Letterman