Elio Villafranca at The Appel Room

Elio Villafranca's Cinque – Music of the Caribbean was an absolute favorite amongst audiences in 2015. With Letters to Mother Africa, the visionary Cuban pianist and composer brings us another ambitious and culturally enlightening program. Leading an all-star band featuring Billy Harper, David Murray, Dezron Douglas, Lewis Nash, Abdou Mboup, and vocalist Vuyo Sotashe – as well as additional percussionists and various African instruments – Villafranca will examine a wide range of jazz written with great reverence not just of Africa, but to it. In addition to original compositions by members of the ensemble, the group will perform diverse and transformative arrangements of music by Duke Ellington, Max Roach, Eric Dolphy, Randy Weston, and Art Blakey. By arranging such a vast array of music for this unique ensemble, Villafranca will explore this powerful tradition within jazz and uncover inspiring new avenues of expression....

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Elio Villafranca's Cinque – Music of the Caribbean was an absolute favorite amongst audiences in 2015. With Letters to Mother Africa, the visionary Cuban pianist and composer brings us another ambitious and culturally enlightening program. Leading an all-star band featuring Billy Harper, David Murray, Dezron Douglas, Lewis Nash, Abdou Mboup, and vocalist Vuyo Sotashe – as well as additional percussionists and various African instruments – Villafranca will examine a wide range of jazz written with great reverence not just of Africa, but to it. In addition to original compositions by members of the ensemble, the group will perform diverse and transformative arrangements of music by Duke Ellington, Max Roach, Eric Dolphy, Randy Weston, and Art Blakey. By arranging such a vast array of music for this unique ensemble, Villafranca will explore this powerful tradition within jazz and uncover inspiring new avenues of expression.
Free pre-concert discussions nightly, 6pm and 8:30pm.
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Artist Pages:
Elio Villafranca  
Billy Harper  
David Murray  
Lewis Nash  

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