Elio Villafranca: Letters to Mother Africa
Celebrate Black Excellence
•
1h 36m
Visionary Cuban pianist and composer Villafranca brings us an ambitious and culturally enlightening program. Leading an all-star band, Villafranca examines a wide range of jazz written with great reverence to Africa. Exploring jazz's deep, unifying roots in Africa, Villafranca incorporates musical traditions and instruments from across the continent into Western jazz contexts, demonstrating common traits as well as the deep diversity of African influences.
PERSONNEL
Elio Villafranca – piano
Billy Harper – tenor saxophone
David Murray – tenor saxophone
Vuyo Sotashe – vocals
Dezron Douglas – bass
Abdou Mboup – percussion
Lewis Nash – drums
Up Next in Celebrate Black Excellence
-
Voices of Freedom
Experience the essential works of some of the 20th century’s most powerful singers and songwriters, performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and vocalists Melanie Charles, Shenel Johns, and Ashley Pezzotti. Under the music direction of JLCO trombonist and vocalist Ch...
-
The Music of Miles Davis
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis performs Miles Davis’ groundbreaking music from the 1940s–60s. Davis’ work during these years is unparalleled in its stylistic range, impact, and enduring popularity, and this show will explore the pivotal musical moments on his quest towa...
-
Black, Brown, and Beige and The Best ...
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis play essential big band music by Duke Ellington and Count Basie. The first set finds the JLCO swinging through a number of classic Basie standards, including "April in Paris," "Swinging the Blues," and "Jumpin' at the Woodside." The second...
