A rather full Claude-Champagne hall awaited the Cuban pianist exiled in Toronto, Hilario Durán. With interest. The audience was not disappointed. Durán is a brilliant pianist, improviser, and arranger, in the vein of the former leader of Irakere, Chucho Valdés, whose three compositions he also presented.
The University of Montreal Student Big Band, led by Brazilian João Lenhari, took this encounter seriously. The task was considerable, as Hilario Durán’s arrangements were quite complex, both rhythmically and harmonically.
Obviously, this student orchestra isn’t on the same level as the Montreal National Jazz Orchestra. But we’re dealing with young musicians who are holding their own—or rather, their brass and reed instruments—very well. And they have the incredible opportunity to compete with internationally renowned artists from very different cultural backgrounds.
For the occasion, two Cuban lecturers from the music faculty joined the big band: pianist Julian Gutierrez Vinardell, whose composition opened the concert, and the tireless percussionist Eugenio Kiko Osorio.
It was an evening steeped in Afro-Cuban jazz from beginning to end, with a nod to Frédéric Chopin at the end of the concert with a piece entitled Fantaisie-Impromptue, in which Chopin-esque harmonies are blended with a flavorful punch of tropical rhythms. This demonstrates Hilario Durán’s very broad musical culture, influenced as much by classical music as by jazz and the many different styles of Cuban music.
Imagine yourself in the shoes of the young Big Band pianist, Benoît Francoeur, when he has to follow Durán in an improvisational dialogue. How fast was his heart beating? He handled it very well, as did saxophonist Daniel Diaz, who was given several solos, including on A Night In Tunisia, Dizzy Gillespie’s signature piece, arranged for large ensemble by Hilario Durán for his latest album Cry Me a River (2023).
Hilario Durán addressed us in English that wasn’t always easy to decipher, but he meant well. Next time, why not more Spanish and a few words of French?
Aside from this minor drawback, we had a wonderful evening. This concludes the Big Band’s school year; they will be back in the fall.
