Afrekete Cuban Night with Elio Villafranca

The official showcase night of Afrekete Afro-Cuban Roots Festival An amazing Cuban dance party with extra special guest Afro-Cuban pianist Elio Villafranca direct from New York, thanks to The Night Cat Fitzroy & the Melbourne International Jazz Festival!! https://www.melbournejazz.com/program/2019/elio-villafranca/ Includes: live Cuban music by Melbourne's finest Cuban musicians with extra special guest Elio Villafranca plus the latest Cuban music by DJs & dance party till 3am! Cost: $39.32 - $61.23** Book special 'Mates Rates' tickets to concert & party-only on booking site here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/elio-villafranca-tickets-59683508982?discount=matesrates (**NB THIS IS A FREE EVENT ONLY TO AFREKETE FULL WEEKEND PASS HOLDERS) Look forward to see you there for the Cuban Rhythm Revolution!! More information about the whole weekend of workshops on our website here: http://afrekete.com/ More on Elio: Villafranca is at the forefront of a new generation of remarkable Cuban musicians and composers. Classically trained in percussion and composition at the prestigious Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, he relocated to the USA where he established himself as a leading contemporary jazz and Latin jazz artist, making major creative contributions to the international development of Cuban Jazz. Since his debut album "Incantations/Encantaciones" in 2003, the Steinway artist has released two more albums and received a multitude of accolades including Jazz Corner's Pianist of the Year (2008), BMI Jazz Guaranty Award (2008), a Grammy Awards nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album (2010), and the 2014 JALC Millennium Swing Award. The Cuban-born, New York-based GRAMMY nominated Villafranca's latest album Cinque fuses the rhythms of the Congo and five Caribbean Islands, telling stories of rebellion and freedom. Together with a stellar line-up of Cuban jazz all-stars, Villafranca brings his own brand of vibrant, thoughtful Cuban jazz to Melbourne. Presented in association with The Melbourne International Jazz Festival & The Night Cat.