Elio Villafranca

Born in the province of Pinar del Río, Cuba, Steinway Artist, pianist and composer Elio Villafranca is a 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship recipient; a two-time Grammy nominee; a Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik nomination in Germany, 2019 Downbeat Critic’s Poll Rising Stars Pianist; winner of the 2018 Downbeat Critic’s Poll Rising Stars Keyboard; recipient of the first Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) Millennium Swing Award in 2014 alongside Cecile McLorin Salvant and Jon Batiste.

Elio Villafranca & The Chick Corea Afro Caribbean Experience

Chick's masterful storytelling knew no bounds-from Bach and Bartok to the Blues, from Stravinksy to Samba, Mozart to Montunos, Ravel and Rhumba-all tempered with the language of swing with the Spanish Tinge. Chick Corea was quoted in a 2019 Billboard interview as saying, "That [Latin] flavor, I find, is mostly in everything I do; it's a part of me,” and Cuban pianist and composer Elio Villafranca takes his music a step further by delving into it from a distinctly Afro-Caribbean meets Jazz perspective. When Jazz at Lincoln Center hosted a week-long Chick Corea Festival in 2013, Chick hand-picked the musicians he wanted to see and hear at Dizzy's, with Elio Villafranca being one of them.

“I grew up in Cuba surrounded by drums, listening to Chick Corea’s music, and the creation of this band is the best way I can celebrate his music.” Elio Villafranca