Katlego Sekhu
Elio Villafranca is a talented Cuban pianist, composer, and educator who has made a name for himself in the world of jazz and Afro-Cuban music. Born in the Pinar del Río province of Cuba, he started learning classical piano at the young age of nine. Villafranca continued his music education at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, where he focused on composition and piano.
In 1995, Villafranca made the move to the United States, where he achieved great success in the music industry. He has performed at renowned venues and festivals worldwide, such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Montreux Jazz Festival
Elio Villafranca recently joined The Jazz Standard with Brenda Sisane for an exclusive interview.
Elio Villafranca recently sat down for an exclusive interview with Brenda Sisane at The Jazz Standard.
“I came to America to study Jazz. I fell in love with Jazz when I was in Cuba. I received training in classical music.
“I was born in a Congolese environment. When I got to Havana, I wanted to go to America and study Jazz. But when I came to America I found that the Jazz and the Latina community was very divided.”
He noted that from those experiences, his mission became to demonstrate how the music from different parts of the world is all connected.
To hear more about Villafranca’s journey and insights, check out the full podcast below.
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