Cuban born Hilario Durán grew up in Havana in a musical family surrounded by a variety of diverse musical influences on a daily basis. He began working as a professional musician in Cuba’s Los Papa Cun¬-Cun Ensemble and in a variety of musical formats. Later on, in the 70’s, Durán was Chucho Valdés’ chosen successor in Cuba’s most modern big band, Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna.
Since arriving in Toronto in 1998, 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 USA, for his outstanding contributions to Afro-Cuban Jazz and Latin Jazz.
This group, Contumbao has an impressive dynamic range of different tempos, tones and moods and features not only Hilario but other heavyweights from the world of Cuban and Canadian Jazz including Yoser Ridriguez on bass, Amhed Mitchel on Drums and Jorge Luis Torres on Percussion. From a July 29th, 2023 sold out performance, here’s the second set of Hilario Duran’s Contumbao – Live at the Bop Stop.