Elio Villafranca

Pianist-composer Elio Villafranca is a visionary force in contemporary jazz. Cuban-born and classically trained, the Grammy-nominated, Guggenheim Fellow, and Steinway Artist.

Born in Pinar del Río, Cuba, Steinway Artist and Grammy-nominated pianist/composer Elio Villafranca was classically trained in percussion and composition at Havana’s Instituto Superior de Arte. Since arriving in the U.S. in 1995, he has emerged as a leading voice in jazz, blending Afro-Caribbean traditions with modern composition. Villafranca has performed alongside Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Pat Martino, Paquito D’Rivera, and others, and has led acclaimed projects such as Letters to Mother Africa (NYC Jazz Record’s Best Concerts 2016) and Caribbean Tinge (Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik nominee, JazzTimes and DownBeat Editor’s Pick). His debut Incantations/Encantaciones was named one of JazzTimes’ Top 50 Jazz Albums (2003). Honors include the BMI Jazz Guaranty Award, NFA/Heineken Green Ribbon Master Artist Grant, and the Sunshine Award for excellence in Caribbean arts. Based in New York City, Villafranca is on faculty at Temple University, The Juilliard School, New York University, and Manhattan School of Music.