HILARIO DURAN
“Hilario Durán is an unparalleled pianist, as well as being a composer and arranger of the first order... one of the greatest pianists of this 20th Century.”
“On Cry Me A River, Cuban-Canadian maestro Hilario Durán’s first big band recording in nearly two decades, the Grammy nominated and Juno Award-winning pianist, composer and band director leads a 19-piece ensemble with magnificent results.”
Hilario Durán received a 2024 Grammy® nomination for 'Best Arrangement, Instrumental' for 'I Remember Mingus,' a composition on his latest recording 'Cry Me A River’.
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Finalist of the 2023 Toronto Arts Foundation award, C.S.A. Nominee 2021 Achievement in Music Original Song – The Cuban Film; winner of the Louis Applebaum Composers Award, Hilario Duran is well-recognized for his piano playing and composing skills.
The Cuban-born grew up in Havana in a musical family surrounded by various musical influences.
A classically trained, Duran's art form describes all musical elements, and the originality and quality of his music have
been influenced by the Cuban pianists, composers, and directors of the Golden Age of Cuban music.
His first work as a professional musician was in Cuba's Los Papa Cun-Cun Ensemble. Later, in the '70s, he was Chucho Valdés' chosen successor in Cuba's most modern big band, 'Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna.'
After making his mark in Cuba, Duran continued to essay his skills as a pianist, producer, composer, arranger and musical director of remarkable virtuosity.
Since arriving in Canada, Hilario has made a name for himself. He is a multi-Canadian Juno Award winner and nominee, an American Grammy nominee, a multi-Canadian National Jazz Award winner & nominee; and the proud recipient of the 2007 Chico O'Farrill Lifetime Achievement Award from Latin Jazz U.S.A. for his outstanding contributions to Afro-Cuban Jazz and Latin Jazz. In addition, he has also been recognized as the winner in the Latin Jazz category of the Latin Awards Canada 2020, 6th Edition. Recently, Duran received special recognition for achievements in music from the City Council of Cleveland, Ohio.
Duran has contributed tremendously to Canada's musical landscape, collaborating with Jazz and Latin artists. He has performed with, composed, and arranged in the classical field for different groups. He has also performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, premiering his concerto for Trio and Orchestra in a tribute to the Pan Am Games.