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Todd M. Simon

@toddsimonmusic

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Trumpeter/Arranger/MD/Composer @ethiocali @acasbrassband @kcrw leftrightcenter Educator @ghchsjazz @ghcmusictech @hodgepodgela #jazzon45 girldad

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I ♥️ conducting creative music!Miles Davis/Gil Evans Sketches of Spain - June 2022📸 @farahstop by @toddsimonmusic

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4 years ago

Still flying high after being amongst the greatness of @arthurverocai_ once again. These moments forever impact and inspire me to be the best I can be! Many thx to @artdontsleep @jazzisdead for having me; @samanthaschmutz y @rogebrasil 4 singing so brilliantly; to @scottmayomusic for being a wonderful horn section leader; my 🎺 sis @ttatemusic @khrazy4khords @lisammccormick 4 playing loud w me to make maestro’s music sound perfect; to all of the crazy talented musicians on stage + @wyldeflower @mariocaldatostudio @djday 4 making sure this event worked out so beautifully. ♥️ @coco_demorest 4 capturing these moments on stage 🙏 Looking forward to the next. by @toddsimonmusic

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3 years ago

Celebrating 5 years of the greatest love with @coco_demorest Never would I ever know that true love really exists and that I’d find my soulmate and soul sister! Thank you, Coco, for being the most amazing partner in crime. I love you so much! by @toddsimonmusic

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3 years ago

Photo from the archives ✨ @ethiocali and friends in front of @golddiggersla Thursday Aug 15, 2024 🎺🎹🎸🛢️🎻🎷Ethiocali returns to @grandperfs on Aug 15 2026 🎶 tell @nancearteproductions I sent you 🤟🏽📷 @farahstop .#ethiocali #bandpics #golddiggersla #losangelesmusic by @toddsimonmusic

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5 days ago

🎺 Celebrate 15 years of @ethiocali with us! 🎉Join us for an unforgettable evening as Ethio Cali, the Los Angeles-based Ethio-Jazz ensemble led by Grammy-winning trumpeter, arranger, composer, and educator Todd Simon, celebrates 15 years of vibrancy and innovation. Blending the rich sounds of 1960s and 70s Ethiopian music with modern jazz, funk, and rhythmic influences from across Africa, Indonesia, the Caribbean, and Latin America, Ethio Cali has become a staple of Los Angeles' musical landscape. Many of the band's members have performed at countless Grand Performances events over the years, making this celebration even more meaningful during our 40th anniversary season.Plus, don't miss a legendary set by @djnumark!📍 Grand Performances📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026🕕 6:00 PM–10:00 PM🎟️ FREE with RSVP on EventbriteCurated by @nancearteproductions#GrandPerformances #EthioCali #DJNuMark #EthioJazz #LiveMusic #DTLA by @toddsimonmusic

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9 days ago

Back in ‘08, I received a call from Carlos Niño asking if I’d like to perform w/ one of my heroes @astatkemulatu for a special event series put on by @mochilla + @artdontsleep titled #timeless This event (along with with the also epic @arthurverocai_ event) forever changed my life! This night was the catalyst for two of my passion projects: @ethiocali + @acasbrassband The clip you are watching is a very anxious me easing nerves jamming along Egon’s dj set before getting ready to hit the stage w/ an all-star LA band backing up one of Ethiopia’s greatest jazz pioneers. This was the first time Los Angeles got to hear my love for 🇪🇹 🎶 as I played my heart out on the @luckmanarts stage. It was this performance that resulted in me being asked to form a band for a one-off performance that became @ethiocali This August brings 15 years of Ethio Cali! We are celebrating at @grandperfs on August 15th w/ @djnumark + and NEW project I’m forming: the LA- Multi Big Band (a multi-generational ensemble) Please come out to celebrate!Very thankful for @bpleasel @ecoleye @lojeroandrewl for envisioning this idea and having trust in my music/artistic ways. Timeless wouldn’t have happened w/out the financial support @t_bake provided through the corporation he was w/ at the time 🙏 by @toddsimonmusic

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15 days ago

A very special double anniversary is coming to Downtown LA. 🏙️✨Join @grandperfs and @nancearteproductions as we celebrate 15 years of @ethiocali and 40 incredible years of @grandperfs. Experience the rich soul of Ethiopia through a night dedicated to music, vibrant culture, and community.To top it off, the legendary @djnumark will be on deck to keep the dance floor moving.August 15, 2026Secure your spot—RSVP link in bio.Flyer by @vickkiacuna | Model @rfisher89#grandperformances40 #nancearteproductions #ethiocali by @toddsimonmusic

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23 days ago

This summer, George Lane Park, the treasured heart of Quartz Hill plays host to an evening of pure jazz and funk aptly as HodgePodgeLA Butch and Rhonda Coleman + Friends. The park’s amphitheater will come alive with syncopated rhythms and soulful grooves. 🏜️Presented by @LAcountyparks and @nextfestla, this sonic oasis will feature The Butch and Rhonda Coleman Quintet and DJ/Trumpet sets by Todd M. Simon 🎺Did you know that this 14-acre plot was a thriving alfalfa farm owned by local pioneers George and Olga Lane, generously donated their land which now remains the only park in the entire Quartz Hill community, making it a highly cherished, centralized “living room”for the locals.#SoundsofLACounty #LACountyParks #NextFestLA #jazzfunk #summerconcerts by @toddsimonmusic

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24 days ago

This year’s Father’s Day was next level!@rubysimonmusic 🎷 was on stage w/ me backing up @ziggymarley at the @hollywoodbowl w/ a stellar band + horn section. Ruby has some history w/ Ziggy. During Covid, she recorded on his #MoreFamilyTime lp and is all over his new/brilliant #BrightsideI’m so proud of her! She’s grown into such a solid musician. Never would I imagine something like this would happen. I was in tears having my own kid on stage, crushing it with us. She’s now on to @csunmusic focusing on music industry and @csunjazz The future is bright for Ruby! Be sure to catch Ruby + me August 15th at the @ethiocali 15th anniversary party at @grandperfs by @toddsimonmusic

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a month ago

Sugar Season 2 is available now via @appletv with a brilliant score composed by @adrianyounge @alishaheed I’m honored to be a part of it on 🎺 with a stellar crew of musicians recorded at @linearlabsmusic by @toddsimonmusic

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a month ago

@rubystarzz rounding out her days at @hamihigh @hamijazzla with high honors! So proud of my partner in 🎷❤️🎺 crime. Love you tons, Ruby! by @toddsimonmusic

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2 months ago

Completely filled with joy when walking in on the @ghchsjazz combo III’s last rehearsal of the school year and hearing a 1st year jazz student wailing SO BEAUTIFULLY over Max Roach’s “Garvey’s Ghost” *thank you big time for the charts @jazsawyer These kids are performing this at a competitive jazz festival this weekend. At most of these festivals, “jazz like this” is frowned upon! Adjudicators question why I encourage creative/group musicality like this this instead of playing the same ol’ standards that have been mastered time after time. This continues my ongoing quest posing the question: #whatisjazz ???After rehearsal, I checked in on Matias. He said he didn’t know what overcame him. My reply: the spirits!FYI they’re also playing Horace Silver’s “Doodlin” and Duke Pearson’s “Idle Moments” (made famous by Grant Green) #jazzlives #jazzeducation by @toddsimonmusic

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2 months ago