2
“Frank’s passion for the wealth of La4n rhythms is clear; he takes the listener on a journey to Brazil, Cuba and back, and he does it all himself – from the performing to the produc4on.” Viewpoint Rebeca Mauleon – Musician, Composer, Educator and author of The Salsa Guidebook “Punto De Vista (ViewPoint) features wonderful wri4ng, performing and recording by New Jersey based pianist/composer Frank Villafañe… infec4ous rhythms, slashing piano, ingenious changes with just enough montuno, and it grooves throughout…a formidable one‐person project that balances technology and superb musicianship to leave you wan4ng more.” Ma= Finley – Flugelhorn arAst and leader of Rio Jazz Track LisAng: 1. Esperando (Wai4ng) 2. Brisas del Caribe (Caribbean Breezes) 3. Obsesion (Obsession) 4. Porque Tu Sufres (Why Do You Suffer) 5. Despechado (Unwanted) 6. Never Enough Time (Nunca Hay Tiempo) 7. My Teacher (Maestro) 8. Misunderstanding (Malentendido) 9. Realiza4on (Realizacion) 10. Poignancy (Nostalgia) Punto De Vista Frank Villafañe Punto De Vista (ViewPoint), Frank Villafañe’s latest release, blends tradi4onal La4n rhythms and forms with contemporary technology. Con4nuing his pioneer concept of virtual La4n jazz – La4n jazz that is completely in the digital realm – Frank incorporates modern inven4ve style with electronica and strikes a balance between the established and the unconven4onal. His music is an eclec4c instrumental mix with a strong melodic basis planted firmly in classical theory, yet permeated with new world rhythm and harmony; Afro‐Cuban and Brazilian percussion punctua4ng and embellishing each musical statement in a synergis4c blend that is greater than the sum of its parts. Consis4ng of seven original composi4ons, two La4n standards, and one La4n adapta4on of a classical waltz, this is an atypical La4n jazz release. With his first CD, South Beach, Frank introduced virtual La4n jazz; in Punto De Vista (ViewPoint) Frank raises the bar and adds the finishing touch. Frank Villafañe is a La4n‐Jazz pianist, composer and arranger. He plays piano con clave in the styles of Eddie Palmieri, Sergio Mendes and Pedro ‘Peruchin’ Jus4z, who he cites as his main influences. Born in Bremerhaven, Germany, the son of Mike and Elfriede Villafañe, Frank grew up all over the United States and Europe, and experienced mul4culturalism first‐hand. Musically, as in life, Frank's upbringing was fairly eclec4c, being exposed to La4n, Jazz, Calypso, Folk, and the Classics early on. He began piano lessons in earnest at the tender age of 8. His interest in music was sustained throughout his reloca4ons to two con4nents during his forma4ve years. At twelve, Frank moved to Puerto Rico, where his 7th grade music teacher provided the impetus fueling his musical direc4on, when he heard an original copy of Maple Leaf Rag played by the composer Scon Joplin. Moving back to the States, at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, Frank acquired the musical form Rag4me and earned his first paying "gig" as a professional musician at the age of 14, where he performed many Rag4me favorites by Scon Joplin and other Rag4me greats, for the Officers Club at a Roaring 20’s theme party. Frank received his formal musical training at Rutgers University where he studied with jazz greats Kenny Barron, Walter Bishop Jr., Ted Dunbar, Frank Foster and others. Frank has played extensively with numerous La4n Jazz and Salsa conjuntos for the last 30 years, and has opened twice for Eddie Palmieri (one of his aforemen4oned influences) and has shared the stage with such La4n luminaries as Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Richie Flores, Mario Rivera, Louis Romero, Alfredo De La Fe, Chris Washburne, and many others. Punto De Vista (ViewPoint) represents the culmina4on of a musical journey that incorporates the experience and influence of many different sources ‐ combined, compressed and reformulated into a cohesive whole that perfectly showcases Frank’s “viewpoint”, and 3 To Clave is his exci4ng new la4n jazz ensemble recently formed to present this “viewpoint” to the world at large. Frank Villafañe | www.frankmv.com | [email protected]
