Composers
Hilario Duran
GRAMMY Nominated (Best Jazz Instrumental Solo: “Paq Man” – Paquito D”Rivera, Soloist – track “From the Heart,” Hilario Duran and his Latin Jazz Big Band). Best Latin Jazz Artist of the Year 2006 by The National Jazz Award, JUNO winner 2005 “New Danzon” CD, and JUNO nominated 2002 and 2006 (“Havana Remembered” and “Perspectiva Encuentro en la Habana” CDs), Hilario Duran, is the latest virtuoso Jazz pianist emerges from Havana, Cuba.
Hilario Duran, joined Arturo Sandoval’s band for nine years (1981 – 1990) as a Composer, Arranger and Producer as well as playing both Piano and Keyboard touring at major Jazz Festivals around the world, sharing stages with legendary musicians such the late Dizzy Gillespie, and Composer/Arranger Michael Legrand.
In 1990, Hilario formed his own band “Perspectiva” which toured successfully through Latin America and Europe. One year later Hilario participated as a pianist in Jane Bunnett’s JUNO Award Winner CD “Spirits of Havana.” In 1995, following a successful European tour with his band “Perspectiva”, Duran decided the time was now right for him to pursue his solo career, allowing him more scope to follow the many different areas of his musical interests.
After two internationally released solo albums “Francisco’s Song” (1996), and “Killer Tumbao” (1997, featuring a hosts of Cuban musical giants as Tata Güines and Changüito), Hilario Duran decided to move to Canada with his family and released the “Habana Nocturna” album, “… a round – trip ticket from Cuban music to Jazz and back…”
Since his move to Canada, Hilario Duran has become an integral and important part of the Canadian music scene, and he is an invaluable member of the Jazz Faculty at Humber College, acting as both and adjunct Piano Professor and Ensemble Director. Hilario appeared internationally with a variety of performance groups, including an appearance at “The Modern Drummer Festival” with Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, John Patitucci, and Michael Brecker. Also, a memorable performance at “The Barranquilla Jazz Festival” in Columbia in 2001 as well as engagements with “All – Stars” band that included heavy – weight musicians Dave Valentin, Juan Pablo Torres, John Benitez, and “Patato” Valdes. Duran also performed in October 2002 (as a pianist and composer) with saxophonist Paquito D’ Rivera, violinist Regina Carter and the living legend Brazilian singer Leny Andrade, joined by “The World Festival Orchestra” New Jersey Performing Arts Center (N.P.C.A.C)
Hilario is currently working as a composer with the classical ensembles of Gryphon Trio, and Quartetto Gelato.
In 2005, Hilario formed his explosive Big Band Orchestra with the top Canadian and Cuban musicians in Toronto being one of the highlights of The Distillery Jazz Festival”, “Autoworkers Assembly Hall Big Band Festival”, in Port Elgin, and “Sound of Toronto Jazz Series”, critically acclaimed by the press.
Hilario Duran last recording “From the Heart” is a tribute to all the great Cubans conductors like Rafael Somavilla, Armando Maria Romeu, and many other great composers, arrangers, and musicians of the first order…
