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17 Mar

Elio Villafranca

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“This is, quite simply, craftsmanship at its finest and it goes beyond mere technique… The other outstanding aspect of the music is how inspired the compositions are.” – Latin Jazz Network

Elio Villafranca is at the forefront of the latest generation of remarkable Cuban pianists, composers and bandleaders that for several years has been making major creative contributions to the international development of modern jazz. In the 2010 Grammy Awards he was nominated in Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year, for his performance, composition and coproduction in the album Things I Wanted To Do by Chembo Corniel

He has released three albums as a bandleader that were each well received. His album, The Source in Between, 2008, remained in the top 10 of the JazzWeek World Top 50 Chart for eleven weeks, and his first album, Incantations/Encantaciones, was ranked amongst the 50 best jazz albums of the year by JazzTimes magazine in 2003. In 2008 Elio Villafranca was also nominated by The Jazz Corner as pianist of the year and he received the Jazz Twirlie Nomination by Dick Crockett, of “The Voice” at 88.7FM, for his album The Source In Between.

Over the years Elio Villafranca’s music has featured jazz master artists such as Pat Martino, Jane Bunnett, Terell Stafford, and Eric Alexander, among other notable instrumentalists.

Elio has also performed nationally and internationally as leader of his quartet, and as a sideman he has collaborated with leading jazz and Latin jazz artists including: Wynton Marsalis; Jon Faddis; Sonny Fortune; Giovanni Hidalgo; Eddie Henderson; Miguel Zenón; Cándido Camero; and Johnny Pacheco.

http://www.eliovillafranca.net/music.htm



THE EXARAS / VILLAFRANCA PROJECT n April 27 & 28, 2012 at 21:30 at Beton 7 – Pydnas St. 7 – Votanicos – 210 7512 625 — ticket 20 euros – A unique performanve by the internationally acclaimed Cuban Jazz pianist Elio Villafranca and world-renowned Greek Classical Jazz guitarist Spiros Exaras. More: http://jazzonline.gr/en/jazzenda/item/1046-the-exaras-/-villafranca-project.html

Last modified on Wednesday, 18 April 2012 09:04
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