Elio Villafranca

On July 2nd, internationally acclaimed Cuban pianist and composer Elio Villafranca brings an unforgettable evening of Latin jazz to Sacramento as part of a special Northern California tour. A Grammy-nominated artist, Guggenheim Fellowship recipient, and Steinway Artist, Villafranca is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential voices in contemporary jazz. His remarkable career includes performances and collaborations with legends such as Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Paquito D'Rivera, Joe Lovano, and Cécile McLorin Salvant. He was also the recipient of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s inaugural Millennium Swing Award, recognizing his visionary contributions to jazz and Afro-Caribbean music.
This special performance will showcase music that honors both Elio’s deep Cuban musical traditions and his virtuosic New York jazz piano style—an exciting blend of Afro-Caribbean rhythm, modern jazz language, and fearless improvisation. Villafranca will be joined by saxophonist and woodwind artist Jacam Manricks. Manricks and Villafranca collaborated extensively during Manricks’ 14-year tenure in New York, performing together at numerous venues including Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear one of the truly innovative and influential voices in Latin jazz—and in contemporary music as a whole—for this one-night-only performance.