▁trad itions ▁placed ▁in ▁context ▁with ▁jazz , ▁classical ▁music ▁and ▁contemporary ▁influ ences . ▁ ▁Simon ' s ▁guitar ▁du et ▁with ▁Spanish / H ond ur an ▁guitar ist ▁Ast or ▁Esc oto ▁resulted ▁in ▁an ▁album ▁Esc oto ▁& ▁Simon ▁“ Col lage ” ▁described ▁as ▁" one ▁of ▁the ▁best ▁contemporary ▁world ▁guitar ▁albums ▁of ▁the ▁de cade ". ▁Simon ' s ▁composition ▁“ V ision ▁of ▁Seven ▁Ke yst ones ” ▁received ▁a ▁semi - final ist ▁award ▁in ▁the ▁instrument al ▁category ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁International ▁Song writing ▁Compet ition ▁I SC ▁after ▁receiving ▁over ▁ 1 6 , 0 0 0 ▁entries . ▁ ▁Simon ▁has ▁performed ▁with ▁a ▁world ▁mix ▁of ▁mus icians ▁from ▁Western ▁and ▁Eastern ▁Europe , ▁North ▁& ▁South ▁America , ▁Asia , ▁Africa , ▁New ▁Zealand ▁such ▁as ▁David ▁Watson ▁( John ▁Z orn ), ▁Paul ▁Steven ▁Ray ▁( V ern on ▁Re id ), ▁Sal im ▁Washington ▁( K en ny ▁Gar ret , ▁Anthony ▁Bra xt on ), ▁Chris ▁Bac as ▁( B ud dy ▁Rich ), ▁Jorge ▁Am or im ▁( B aden ▁Pow ell , ▁Al ▁F oster ), ▁Art uro ▁Mart ine z ▁( J os é ▁Gre co ), ▁Alfonso ▁C id ▁( P ilar ▁Rio ja ), ▁Carlos ▁Hay re , ▁Mich ał ▁Urban iak , ▁Woj cie ch ▁Kar ol ak ▁among ▁others . ▁He ▁was ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁Mand olin ▁Orchestra ▁and ▁BC ▁Elect ro -