PIANIST, COMPOSER, ARRANGER, WRITER

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Frank Villafañe is a Latin-Jazz pianist, composer and arranger. He plays piano "con clave" in the styles of Eddie Palmieri, Peruchin and Sergio Mendes. Born in Bremerhaven, Germany, son of Mike and Elfriede Villafañe, Frank grew up all over the United States and Europe, and experienced multi-culturalism first-hand. Musically, as in life, Frank's upbringing was fairly eclectic, being exposed to Latin, Jazz, Calypso, Folk, and the Classics early on. He began piano lessons in earnest at the tender age of 8. This interest in music was sustained throughout the moves over two continents during his formative years.
At twelve, Frank moved to Puerto Rico, and was quickly exposed to that infectious music known as "Salsa". But it was Frank's 7th grade music teacher which provided the impetus fueling his musical direction; he heard an original copy of Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" played by Scott Joplin himself, and was forever changed. Moving back to the States, at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, Frank quickly acquired and studied the musical form, Ragtime, and earned his first paying "gig" as a professional musician at the age of 14, when he performed many Ragtime favorites by Scott Joplin and other Ragtime greats, for the WAFB Officers Club at a Roaring 20's theme party. Meanwhile, Frank's father continued his influence by encouraging him to listen and emulate several great Latin pianists, notably Sergio Mendes (of Brasil 66 fame) and the Cuban legend Pedro Justiz "Peruchin".
In college, at Rutgers University, Frank began playing piano for a number of Jazz & Latin "conjunto" style bands and orchestras, while studying piano with no less than the great Kenny Barron. He was immersed in theory and keyboard harmony classes at Rutgers and studied at the feet of Walter Bishop Jr, Ted Dunbar, Frank Foster, and Larry Ridley.
Later, Frank formed Jazz Y Clave, an 8 piece conjunto. Performing his own arrangements of many Jazz standards, Jazz Y Clave soon became a staple at New Brunswick's number one hot-spot, Nova Terra. This continued for five years, during which time Jazz Y Clave performed at many venues throughout New York and New Jersey, including appearing at the prestigious Red Bank Riverfest Jazz Festival in 2001 (and again in 2005), and opening for no less than Eddie Palmieri at the Expo Theater at Fort Monmouth (and again at Red Bank in 2005).
In between performances, Frank composes all his music on his studio at home.

Frank's Review

FRANK VILLAFANE - SOUTH BEACH (2006)

Frank Villafañe's debut CD featuring five instrumenal Latin Jazz compositions. His style encompasses a blending of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian rhythms, while haunting evocative melodies ride over the percussive mixture

review by Paul J. Youngman

review by Henry Mora

review by Francesco Emmanuel

review by Rafe Gomez

review by Rebeca Mauleon

About "South Beach"

"South Beach is an instrumental Latin Jazz excursion consisting of five compositions; however, South Beach is not your typical Latin Jazz release. Each piece is an eclectic mix of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian percussion, overlaid with poignant harmonic melodies furnished by acoustic/electric piano and vibraphone, while an acoustic bass pulsates hypnotically. Mostly hot, sometimes cool, but always engaging, South Beach is as diverse and exciting as the famous beach for which it was named."

Another Latin Jazz CD from yet another Latin Jazz artist? OK...what makes this one different?

For starters, all the songs were composed by one person...arranged and performed by the same person...and produced by the very same person! In other words, this Latin Jazz CD is as unique as the artist who composed, arranged, performed and produced it.

Frank Villafañe is the person in question, and he represents a new breed of Latin Jazz artist - one who believes good quality music, in particular Latin Jazz, can be produced independently. His debut CD, South Beach, is a testament to that belief. One listen, and you'll be a believer as well.

Born of Puerto Rican and German parents in Bremerhaven, Germany, Frank's upbringing was as multi-cultural as bratwurst and rice and beans. Playing piano from age 8, Frank grew up studying the classics and listening to all kinds of music, from Belafonte to Zappa. His father's career was the Air Force, so Frank traveled extensively during the first half of his life.

His music is just as eclectic as his upbringing, with a strong melodic basis planted firmly in classical theory, yet permeated with new world rhythm and harmony; Afro-Cuban and Brazilian percussion punctuating and embellishing each musical statement in a synergistic blend that is greater than the sum of its parts. And no wonder, since his strongest influences are Sergio Mendes, Eddie Palmieri, Pedro "Peruchin" Justiz and Kenny Barron (his last piano teacher).

Frank has played extensively with numerous Latin Jazz and Salsa conjuntos for the last 30 years, and has shared the stage with no less than the great Eddie Palmieri (one of his aforementioned influences), as well as other Latin Jazz luminaries such as Jose Alberto "El Canario", Richie Flores, Mario Rivera, Louis Romero, Chris Washburne, and many others. Frank is a veteran sideman who has recently embarked on a solo career with this debut release.