Hilario Durán – Cry Me A River (Alma Records, 2024)
Hilario Durán’s latest, Cry Me A River, marks a triumphant return with his first big band recording in 17 years. This celebrated Cuban-Canadian composer and piano maestro leads a 19-piece high energy ensemble, featuring Cubano heavyweights like Paquito D’Rivera and Horacio “El Negro” Hernández.
Durán’s talent as a gifted instrumentalist, effective band leader and highly creative composer is on full display. His music is grounded in his deep Cuban roots, reflecting Cuba’s melting pot, incorporating various types of traditional Cuban dance music and rhythms. However, Durán has a knack for mixing traditions and infusing his arrangements with spirited improvisation in the form of elaborate Latin Jazz. The nine tracks on this album feature rich textures and colors, breaking free from overused melodic and harmonic hooks.
It is no wonder that Hilario Durán and his Latin Jazz Big Band clinched the 2024 JUNO Award (top Canadian music industry award) for Jazz Album of the Year (Group) with Cry Me A River.
Musicians: Hilario Durán on piano; Paquito D’Rivera on alto saxophone and clarinet; Elizabeth Rodriguez on violin and vocals; OKAN on background vocals; Evaristo Machado on background vocals; Roberto Occhipinti on double bass; Roberto Riverón on double bass; Marc Rogers on double bass; Horacio “El Negro” Hernández on drums; Luis Mario Ochoa on guitar; Jorge Luis Torres “Papiosco” on congas and other percussion; Magdelys Savigne on congas; Alexis Baro on trumpet; Kevin Turcott on trumpet; Alexander Brown on trumpet; Brian Okane on trumpet; Colleen Allen on alto saxophone and flute; Andy Ballantyne on alto saxophone, clarinet and alto flute; Luis Deniz on alto saxophone; Jeff King on tenor saxophone and clarinet; Kelly Jefferson on tenor saxophone; Pol Coussée on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet; Christian Overton on trombone; Karl Silveira on trombone; Bob Somerville on trombone; and Peter Hysen on bass trombone.
Buy Cry Me A River.
Author: Iliana Cabrera
