Featured Artist: Hilario Duran trio

CD Title: New Danzon

Year: 2005

Record Label: ALMA records

Style: Latin Jazz / Latin Funk

Musicians: Hilario Duran (piano), Roberto Ochipinti (bass), Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez (drums)

Review:

Cuban-born pianist Hilario Duran is considered one of the greatest legends of Latin jazz. He has performed throughout the world and has played with many greats - Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Rivera, Leny Andrade, Michel Legrand, Michael Brecker, among many others…

His career as soloist began in 1990 and with each new release Duran always receives high critical acclaim in the US, Canada, Europe and Latin America. In his lastest CD New Danzon, Hilario is “Maestro”.

The dexterity and skill of Hilario is impressed in each tune. "El Manisero," "Segment," "Gaviota," "All of Me," "Pare Cochero" and "Velas" are interpreted with energy, technique and rapid-fire imagination. The perfect knowledge of Latin music mixed up with the jazz piano tradition make this release an ear delight.

"Yemaya Olodo" and "New Danzon" document his commanding mastery of group interplay. Duran really has whole swathes of the piano tradition under his fingers. He is also a great swinger. His playing is capable and supportive, finding sensible and proactive elements in his compositions.

After nearly three decades in the spotlight, Duran has become a legend, equally capable of touching souls with taste and sensitivity. From the heart, each note of New Danzon awake loads of feelings and emotions.

“Caballo Viejo” ends this release with the powerful and technically sweet playing of bassist Roberto Occhipinti. “El Negro” Hernandez throughout this recording is criminally swinging. The trio playing is something of genius and is so exciting that it reaches perfection.

The Hilario Duran Trio display interactive high skills, finding new levels of feeling with new directions. New Danzon is a marvelous CD and concerning Latin Jazz you could hardly ask for anything better…Felicitaciones Maestro Duran!

Reviewed by: Dr. Ana Isabel Ordonez

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