Exciting encounter between avant jazz and Cuban music, by groundbreaking New York pianist. A favorite with critics of New York Times and Chicago Reader.

Cuban born pianist David Virelles, a great talent in the New York downtown scene, astounds everyone with exciting improvisations in which he gives a personal interpretation of the mysterious ritual music of his native country. Leading critics of New York Times and Chicago Reader voted his album Continuum (2012) as the absolute number one on their year end lists and his new ECM album Mbókò is recognized as well.

Ever since he arrived in New York in 2009, David Virelles’ career has been on the rise. He’s the current pianist with Steve Coleman, Ravi Coltrane and Mark Turner and he plays on recent ECM CDs of Chris Potter and Tomasz Stańko. Afro-Cuban rituals, poetry, symbolism and magic are important influences on Mbókò, which contains important contributions by singer/percussionist Román Diaz on the traditional biankoméko drum kit.

‘Virelles is one of several Cuban musicians living in New York who have fully absorbed the environments of two islands—Cuba and Manhattan—and now exert influence through subtle innovations as sidemen and bold strokes as bandleaders’ (Wall Street Journal).

The Bimhuis restaurant is open prior to the concert from 6.30 til 8.30PM (reservations via 020-7882158). After the concert, the Bimhuis Café is open (free entrance).

Follow LIVE STREAM BIMHUIS RADIO: Click the link below on the evening of the concert, starting at 8PM:

David Virelles piano, Vicente Archer bas, Román Díaz biankoméko/zang, Gerald Cleaver drums