Maurice Simon

Maurice James Simon (born March 26, 1929,[1] Houston, TX) is a jazz saxophonist.

A high school classmate of Eric Dolphy (1945-6)[2] Simon appears on an early 1945 Los Angeles recording in a band led by Russell "Illinois" Jacquet and which also included Teddy Edwards, Charles Mingus, Bill Davis and Chico Hamilton.[3]

In 1948, again with Jacquet as leader, Simon was in an all-star band recording in Detroit, which included Sonny Stitt, Leo Parker, Sir Charles Thompson, Al Lucas and Shadow Wilson.[4]

He went on to join the Gerald Wilson Orchestra which also included Snooky Young, Red Kelly and Melba Liston.[5]

In 1950 he recorded for Savoy Records backing Helen Humes in a big band with Dexter Gordon, Ernie Freeman, Red Callender and J.C. Heard.[6]

In the 1970s he was a member of the Duke Ellington orchestra.

He also played with Fats Domino, Papa John Creach, Big Maybelle, Faye Adams, Bumble Bee Slim, Percy Mayfield[7] and B. B. King.

Discography

As sideman

With B.B. King

References