| Maurice James Simon | |
| Birth Date: | 26 March 1929 |
| Birth Place: | Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Instruments: | Saxophone |
Maurice James Simon (March 26, 1929 – August 6, 2019) was an American jazz saxophonist.[1]
A high school classmate of Eric Dolphy,[2] Simon appeared on an early-1945 Los Angeles recording in a band led by Russell Jacquet and which also included Teddy Edwards, Charles Mingus, Bill Davis and Chico Hamilton.[3]
In 1948, 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. In the 1970s, he was a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
Simon also played with Fats Domino, Papa John Creach, Big Maybelle, Faye Adams, Bumble Bee Slim, Percy Mayfield and B. B. King.[6]
Simon died on August 6, 2019, at the age of 90.[1] [7]