Cuban pianist Hilario Durán was still a little boy when he lived across the street from singing legend Omara Portundo. She already recognised his exceptional talent. Following his classical education he played in the big bands of Havana, for which he wrote compositions and arrangements. Some of musicians with which he collaborated include Oscar D’Leon, Arturo Sandoval and Chuco Valdes, before founding his own groups. His current trio, featuring bassist Roberto Occhipinti and drummer Mark Kelso, received praise from JazzTimes: ‘Coming very close to sounding like a Latin jazz big band. This is quite the feat for a trio’, ‘Duran’s music is charged with flamboyance and displays of technical wizardry… there’s a gracefulness to his attack that allows honest emotion to reveal itself alongside the fire he ignites.’

(CUBA)

Hilario Durán piano, Roberto Occhipinti bass, Mark Kelso drums, Gerardo Rosales percussion