Hilario Durán

Cuban-born Hilario Durán grew up in Havana in a musical family surrounded by a variety of diverse musical influences. He began working as a professional musician in Cuba’s Los Papa Cun-Cun Ensemble and in a variety of musical formats. In the 70’s, Durán was Chucho Valdés’ chosen successor in Cuba’s most modern big band, Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna. Hilario toured worldwide and performed with Dizzy Gillespie and Michel Legrand, among many others, as part of Arturo Sandoval’s band where he was pianist/keyboardist, arranger and musical director for 9 years. Chucho Valdés has acknowledged Grammy-nominated and multi JUNO-award winner Hilario Durán as “an unparalleled pianist, composer and arranger of the first order”. Since arriving in Canada, Hilario has made a name for himself as a multi-Canadian JUNO Award winner and nominee, American Grammy nominee, multi-Canadian National Jazz Award winner, and proud recipient of the 2007 Chico O’Farrill Lifetime Achievement Award from Latin Jazz USA for his contributions to Afro-Cuban Jazz and Latin Jazz. Named one of the 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians in 2009, and the 2018 Recipient of the Louis Applebaum Composers Award.