Meet the Cuban pianist playing Chick Corea's catalog through a Latin jazz perspective
Elio Villafranca tells complicated, character-rich stories from the piano.
Among the Cuban-born artist's projects: a deep dive into the musical renaissance his country experienced in the 1950s, evoking personalities and places on "On Any Given Night in Havana"; and, on 2018's "Cinque," Villafranca led a star-studded large group (Steve Turre, Lewis Nash and Wynton Marsalis among the players) through a sprawling five-moment, 31-track portrait of Joseph Cinque, who steered a slave revolt in the late 1830s.
When the pianist visits Columbia next week, he will tell a less dramatic but equally-detailed story: that of the late, great Chick Corea's musical versatility.
Villafranca headlines the latest edition of the "We Always Swing" Jazz Series' Dr. Carlos and Laura Perez-Mesa Memorial Concert, which annually examines and amplifies some facet of Latin jazz.
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Villafranca's appearance is both a tribute and an act of mutual influence. The pianist's career grew in relationship to his connection with Corea, who died in 2021. The 27-time Grammy winner — read that again; it's not a misprint — personally chose Villafranca among a group of five pianists to perform at his jazz festival in 2015, according to Villafranca's website.
Villafranca also cited Corea and Herbie Hancock among the earliest American artists he gravitated toward.
"We were so in love with them. We were always asking who's music you felt more comfortable with — was it Herbie Hancock's music or Chick Corea's kind of Spanish touch?" he told All About Jazz in 2009. "We really wanted the CDs that really impacted us, and I say us, because there was a group of musicians that were impacted by the music. For us, that was impressive."
And Latin jazz idioms, in turn, shaped Corea. Two of his Grammys came in the best Latin jazz album category, for collaborations with The Spanish Heart Band and Eliane Elias in 2020 and 2022, respectively. The pianist frequented Latin clubs upon arriving in New York in the 1960s, according to a 2018 Billboard article, and offered other Latin-focused records throughout his career.
Corea's memorable compositions with a Latin touch include "Spain," "La Fiesta" and "Armando's Rhumba," each relying on authentic rhythms.
"... That flavor, I find, is mostly in everything I do; it’s a part of me. I don’t know how to differentiate it," he told Billboard's Ron Hart.
In Columbia, Villafranca and an ace band, which includes drummer Eric Harland, saxophonist Joel Frahm and trumpeter Freddie Hendrix will explore Corea's catalog through an Afro-Caribbean lens. Villafranca is just the player do do it; in addition to the internalized rhythms of Cuba, his piano work sparkles.
And Villafranca's instincts as a composer and arranger always burn, either smoldering slow and hot or igniting with all the color and pop of fireworks.
Villafranca's band will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at Missouri Theatre. Visit wealwaysswing.org or https://www.facebook.com/WeAlwaysSwingJazzSeries for more information and remaining ticket options.
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Check out these other recent Latin jazz gems
If Villafranca's performance sparks something, build out your 21st-century Latin jazz soundtrack with these three recent offerings, all of which commend themselves with expert, deeply humane musicianship.
Claudia Acu?a, "Duo"
NPR sage Felix Contreras flagged the vocal effort from this Chilean artist as one of the top Latin records of 2022. As the title implies, Acu?a works in lock-step with several modern jazz greats, including Christian McBride, Fred Hersch, Kenny Barron and the late Corea, to create something quite subtle and sublime.
Daniel Villarreal, "Panama 77"
One of the best albums from last year in any genre, "Panama 77" features gorgeous, seamless compositions from drummer and DJ Daniel Villarreal. Now based in Chicago, the Panama-born artist keeps the record humming with subtle but meaningful rhythmic shifts, compelling melodic motives and an organic folding of genres that somehow retains the distinctiveness of each.
Miguel Zenón, "M?ú?sica De Las Am?é?ricas"
A true titan of modern jazz, Puerto Rican saxophonist Zenón is a Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow, and once again a Grammy nominee for this sweeping affair, which "grew out of Zenón’s passion for the history of the American continent" and its complicated cultural and musical networks, according to his Bandcamp site. Featuring regular and fresh collaborators, Zenón keeps his playing simultaneously fiery and smooth, guiding his peers through fascinating textures and a melding of melodic ideas.
Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at [email protected] or by calling 573-815-1731. Find him on Twitter @aarikdanielsen.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: How Elio Villafranca will honor Chick Corea in Columbia concert
