David Virelles is an award-winning Cuban jazz pianist and composer, based in New York City. Always rooted in Afro-Cuban sacred music traditions, Virelles is perhaps best known for his years of work with the Ravi Coltrane Quartet.
David Virelles in New York City
Carnegie Hall
David Virelles Nosotros Ensemble featuring Dafnis Prieto shows the influence of Cuban rhythm of the sacred batá drums on many musical traditions through works curated by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tania León, including León’s “A la par;” NEA Jazz Master Henry Threadgill’s “Where Coconuts Fall,” Val-Inc’s “Gerta,” and the world premiere of Virelle’s “Oro” a Carnegie Hall commission; in Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall; on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 7:30pm. Tickets from $54 at carnegiehall.org 🇨🇺
Virelles, Prieto, and León are interesting together. Virelles is a jazz pianist whose music is rooted in Afro-Cuban folk traditions. Prieto is a jazz drummer whose rhythm can be almost supernatural. León creates new classical music from Cuban rhythms in the most surprising ways (and its often still danceable like traditional Cuban music).
First of all jazz and classical music are two sides of the same coin. European music tends to be more melodic, whereas Indigenous and African traditions tend to be more rhythmic. Jazz connects the traditions. Cuban rhythms are the foundation of a lot of music of the Americas, including blues, jazz, Latin jazz, rock, hip hop, salsa, reggaeton, and more. And the piano is actually a percussion instrument. This is going to be a spectacular concert.
David Virelles
Virelles was born and raised Santiago de Cuba, Cuba’s cultural heartland in the east. For some reason, a lot of Cuban culture forms in the east and travels west to the capital where it connects with the world. Santiago is the home of changüi and son Cubano, the roots of Cuban timba and New York salsa. In culture, place matters and Virelles comes from a very important place in Cuban music.
He studied classical music in Cuba where that is an especially intense course of study. Virelles got invited to Toronto, Canada by Jane Bunnett who plays a lot of Afro-Cuban jazz. He stayed, studied, and worked with many Canadian bands.
Virelles moved to New York City in 2009 where he was mentored by Pulitzer Prize-winning jazz sax and flute player Henry Threadgill, and plays with many jazz and Latin jazz legends. He’s an artist with a surprising range. In New York, Virelles’ latest work is influenced by the sound of The City itself like a contemporary John Cage. Whether he is playing jazz, classical, or something altogether new, all of Virelles’ music is rooted in Afro-Cuban sacred traditions. Those are all about bringing people together, and that’s what the music of David Virelles does.
He has won many awards including: Shifting Foundation Fellow, Herb Alpert Award, CINTAS Fellowship, Louis Applebaum Award, and awards from the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Jazz Gallery.
More Information
davidvirelles.net
X (Twitter) @DavidVirelles
Facebook @davidvirellesmusic
Instagram @davidvirellespiano