Hilario Duran Trio: Motion

Hilario Duran continues to essay his skills as a pianist and composer of remarkable virtuosity on Motion. The compositions open a vista of stylistic opportunities, into which he delves with relish and focus, as he drives his creative forces to a new high.

Duran's father, Hilario Duran Sr., was part of the "Movimiento del 'Feeling'" (The Feeling Movement) in Cuba, and regularly met with other musicians including Omara Portundo. The younger Duran, who began playing the piano by ear when he was eight, got his first lead sheet from Portundo.

Though he was surrounded by Cuban musicians and initially came under their influence, Duran had an open vision that took him into the realm of Roy Eldridge, Keith Jarrett, Harry James and Tchaikovsky. The expanse of genres and styles has seeped into his music, giving him a vantage point that oversees his compositions.

After making his mark in Cuba—first with the Los Papa Cun-Cun Ensemble and then with the Orchestra Cubana de Musica, where he replaced Chucho Valdes—Duran made his first visit to Toronto at the invitation of saxophonist Jane Bunnett, relocating permanently in 1998. From that time on he has become a staple of the Canadian music scene, with personal appearances and records setting the mark for his success, with Motion adding one more resplendent notch.

Duran has the perfect soul mates in drummer Mark Kelso and bassist Roberto Occhipinti. The empathy between them is not only the key to resolution; it helps take the music to an enthralling high.

Duran is agile, switching tempo to perfection to infuse artful mood swings. Initially playful on "It's Only Seven," he changes pulse; and, so, space gives way to a welter of notes, and thoughtful progressions dissolve into lithe melodic lines. Kelso uses the cymbals to add vibrant colors, while Occhipinti plugs the beat and finds room for a quick solo spot. Their voices are eloquent and the tune becomes the herald for more marvelous music.