One of the premier exponents of Latin Jazz, and winner of the Louis Applebaum Composer’s Award, Cuban-born HILARIO DURAN grew up in Havana into a musical family. He began working as a professional musician in Cuba’s Los Papa Cun-Cun Ensemble. In the ’70s, Duran was Chucho Valdés’ chosen successor in Cuba’s most modern big band, ‘Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna’. Later on, as part of the Arturo Sandoval band, Hilario toured worldwide and had the opportunity of performing with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Michel Legrand, among many others.
Hilario’s formal music training, combined with a deep understanding of traditional Cuban music, as well as a love for jazz, allowed him to play a key role in the integration of Afro-Cuban music and jazz. He is a virtuoso pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader in his own right.
After making his mark in Cuba, Duran continued to essay his skills as pianist, composer, arranger and musical director of remarkable virtuosity. Since arriving in Canada, Hilario has firmly established himself in his own name. He is a multiple Juno Award winner and nominee, a Grammy nominee, and recipient of the 2007 Chico O’Farrill Lifetime Achievement Award from Latin Jazz USA for his outstanding contributions to Afro Cuban Jazz and Latin Jazz.
Hilario Duran immigrated to Canada in 1998 and was named ‘One of the 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians’ in 2009. He is an adjunct piano professor and ensemble director in the jazz faculty at Toronto’s Humber College.
This evening’s stellar HILARIO DURAN TRIO features jazz masters ROBERTO RIVERON on bass and AMHED MITCHEL on drums, entertaining in the up-close-and-personal ambience of The Home Smith Bar.