Elio Villafranca "Cinque" 2-CD Release yesterday

Elio Villafranca   Cinque  Featuring: Wynton Marsalis, Lewis Nash, Vincent Herring, Steve Turre, Greg Tardy & Freddie Hendrix

Cinque is a five movement suite inspired by the story of Joseph Cinque, who in 1839 led a successful revolt aboard the slave ship La Amistad, days after being sold and transported to a sugar plantation in Cuba. Elio Villafranca's most ambitious project today, showcases the cultural diversity of the five Caribbean islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, and Jamaica; while simultaneously highlighting the Congolese musical heritage woven into the fabric of each of these diverse nations, and yet unified via the forced migration of Africans to the Americas. Cinque (artistShare) is a body of work that encompasses narration, original composition and selections of Elio's own field recordings of different forms of rooted Congolese rhythms in the Caribbean, especially the traditions of Tambor Yuka, only practiced today in the region of Pinar Del Río, where Elio was born, and Gangá, a rare culture that came from Sierra Leon, Cinque' place of birth, to the region of Matanzas, Cuba. Both traditions are near to extinction today. Elio's intention is to share music the same way he experienced it growing up in Cuba, by giving access to the context and sources that inspired his original compositions. This way of sharing, creates a better bridge with the listener to a more meaningful understanding and connection with music and culture.

Elio Villafranca - Cinque

PERSONNEL Elio Villafranca - piano Vincent Herring - alto & soprano sax, flute Greg Tardy - tenor sax, clarinet Todd Marcus - bass clarinet Freddie Hendrix - trumpet Steve Turre - trombone, bass trombone, conch shells Ricky Rodriguez - acoustic bass Lewis Nash - drum set Arturo Stable - bata drums, congas, palo drums or atabales Miguel Valdes - bata drums, congas, bombo Jonathan Troncoso - palo drums or atabales, valsié, barril drum Nelson Mateo Gonzales - barril, palo drums or atabales Alexander Lasalle - vocals Alexander Waterman - cello NARRATION Terrance McKnight GUESTS Wynton Marsalis - trumpet Leyla McCalla - vocals Don Vappie - banjo

"Elio's music is passionate.  A brand new application of ancient ways." - Chick Corea "Pianist and composer Elio Villafranca is an inspired and visionary musician.  I am profoundly moved by Elio's vision and musicianship.  He is a treasured member of the family here at Jazz at Lincoln Center." - Wynton Marsalis DownBeat Feature - Villafranca Examines History

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