A Rich Lesson in Black History

Cinque cover art

New York-based Cuban pianist/composer Elio Villafranca will tour Australia in September to launch his new five-suite album, Cinque which garnered 4.5 stars from Downbeat Magazine.

Cinque showcases the diversity of Congolese heritage in the five Caribbean Islands; Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, and Jamaica who unified via the forced migration of Africans to the Americas.

On his second visit to Australia, Villafranca will collaborate once again with the eight-piece Sydney-based ensemble Artquesta and Cuban dancer Adrian Medina for his upcoming performances.

Classically trained in percussion and composition at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana before relocating to New York in 1995, Villafranca was recently named as #1 Rising Star (keys) in Downbeat’s Critics Poll. Since his relocation to the US, the Grammy-nominated Steinway Artist has received a multitude of accolades including; Jazz Corner’s Pianist of the Year (2008), BMI Jazz Guaranty Award (2008), NFA/Heineken Green Ribbon Master Artist Music Grant (2008) and Jazz at the Lincoln Centre’s Swing Award (2014).

Based in New York, Villafranca performs extensively nationally and internationally. He is currently a faculty member at Julliard and the Manhattan School of Music and resident professor at Temple University in Philadelphia. For more information visit Elio’s website.

WATCH CINQUE’S EPK HERE 

NATIONAL TOUR DATES

Friday, September 7

ADELAIDE: 2018 NEXUS ARTS CENTRE • 8.30PM BOOKINGS

Friday September 7

ULVERSTONE, TAS: THE WHARF, • 7.30PM Tickets at door

Wednesday September 12

SYDNEY: DARLINGHURST THEATRE CO, ETERNITY PLAYHOUSE 8.00PM • BOOKINGS

2 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY