So on Monday while I was exploring new jazz artists, I read a forum thread about flutists and someone included Jane Bunnett among their favorites. I knew nothing about Jane, but here’s what I found about this accomplished musician at her website :
Multiple Juno Award winner, Jane Bunnett has turned her bands into showcases for the finest talent from Canada, the U.S.and Cuba. She has been nominated for Grammy Awards, numerous Juno Awards, and most recently, was honoured with an appointment to the Order of Canada. An internationally acclaimed musician, Jane Bunnett is known for her creative integrity, improvisational daring and courageous artistry. Her exploration of Afro-Cuban melodies expresses the universality of music and her ability to embrace and showcase the rhythms and culture of Cuba has been groundbreaking. She has toured the world bringing her own special sound to numerous jazz festivals, displaying her versatility as a flutist, saxophone player and pianist. As an educator, spokesperson and social activist, she remains unafraid to explore uncharted territory in her quest for excellence. Read More
When I went to MOG to check out her music, I saw that her latest album is titled Cuban Rhapsody and is an album featuring both Jane and pianist Hilario Durán. A quick listen to the album told me I was listening to a very dynamic duo. Here’s a couple of Hilario Durán’s accomplishments. You can read more at his website!
Two JUNO Award 2010 nominations for the Hilario Durán Trio album “Motion” (Alma/Universal Records). Best Contemporary Jazz album of the Year & Recording Engineer of the Year. Named #1 Latin Jazz Best Recording of 2010 by Latin Jazz Network.
Grammy nomination in 2007 for his Latin Jazz Big Band album, “From The Heart”, (Alma/Universal Records) featuring Paquito D’Rivera and Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez. Juno Award Winner (Canadian Grammy equivalent) “Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year”. Won two JUNO and over a dozen National Jazz Awards in Canada
“Hilario Durán is an unparalleled pianist, as well as being a composer and arranger of the first order…one of the greatest Cuban pianists of the 20th century”. —Chucho Valdés
I did some more exploring and listened to Hilario’s 2005 award winning album New Danzon and I’m a fan. Now, I still have to go back and explore Ms. Bunnett’s back catalog!
There were several videos at Youtube featuring both artists, but this one which features Ms.Bunnett performing with Cuban Piano Masters Hilario Duran and Frank Emilio in 1997 at Montreal International Jazz Festival was amazing! Hope you think so, too!