Location
Simsbury, CT
Artist
William Cepeda & Elio Villafranca Sextet
Fiscal Year Awarded
2025
Grant or Program
New England States Touring (NEST) Grant
Grant Amount
$5,724

<p>In this unique educational session and musical performance, Elio Villafranca &amp; William Cepeda will unite for the first time and pay tribute to the legendary saxophonist Charles Neville and the rich musical heritage of New Orleans. Villafranca, an award-winning Cuban pianist and composer who blends jazz and Afro-Cuban music, and Cepeda, a Puerto Rican jazz trombonist and innovator who blends jazz and Puerto Rican music, will offer an hour long discussion on the history of African musical influence on their cultures and on New Orleans, exploring the similarities, differences, and connections between their cultures.</p>