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Yilian Canizares

"Yilian is one of the most incredible talents of the new generation of Cuban musicians. She is a virtuoso, she is expressive, spontaneous and with a grace that makes her the favorite of all of us." —Chucho Valdés

Before she picks up her violin and walks onstage, Yilian Cañizares pays homage to her ancestors. Candles are lit. Prayers are said, and offerings made. Then as the houselights dim and her group of crack musicians file on before her, she’ll lean down and touch the floor as she enters.

“This always puts me fully in the moment,” says the vivacious Cuban singer and instrumentalist. “It allows the music and the ancestors to flow through me, to reach people even if they don’t speak my language. I go into a trance when I perform live,” she adds with a grin. “It is like a religious experience.”

All those who have marvelled at her fiery blend of jazz, classical and Afro-Cuban rhythms, who’ve got goosebumps from her otherworldly voice, will testify to feeling transformed. Whether onstage or on record there are few artists as impressively talented as Cañizares, a Havana-born, Swiss-based thirtysomething with a respect for the past and a feel for the future - oh, and a smile to die for.

Two acclaimed albums, 2013’s self-produced Ochumare and 2015’s Invocación, helmed by Alê Siqueira (Roberto Fonseca, Omara Portuondo) have strengthened Cañizares’ reputation as a trailblazer and boundary crosser por excelencia. Not for nothing was she declared ‘revelation of the year’ by French weekly Le Novel Observateur: with her charisma, tapestry of influences and the ease with which she sings and plays violin simultaneously, Cañizares is a bona fide discovery.

“My sound reflects the richness and mixture of cultures that I carry with me today,” she says in her fluent, accented English. “It is who I am: a woman. A Cuban. A musician. A citizen of the world.”

Cañizares grew up in Vedado, the neighbourhood next to Havana’s Plaza de la Revolution. Early musical memories include her grandfather serenading her on guitar, and her mother singing as she accompanied herself on piano.

“Every weekend I’d be taken to see a classical orchestra, jazz quartet or salsa band,” she remembers. “My mother said I’d be chatting away, telling her I wanted to be up on the stage.”

Aged seven, she won a place at the prestigious Manuel Saumell music academy, to study piano and violin. This was the austerity-hit 1990s, Cuba’s so-called ‘Special Period’: “It was tough getting equipment, getting anything,” says Cañizares. She won the National Violin Contest of Cuba four times, nonetheless.

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In Pictures

Fano Jazz By The Sea 2021, Part 3-3

Read "Fano Jazz By The Sea 2021, Part 3-3" reviewed by Andrea Rotili


A collection of photos from Fano Jazz By The Sea in Fano, Italy running from July 23-31, featuring David Helbock's Random/Control, Yilian Cañizares Resilience Trio, Khalab Trio with Amin Drake, youth concerts, concerts for kids and concerts at sunrise. ...

Interview

Yilian Cañizares: lo Yin e lo Yang

Read "Yilian Cañizares: lo Yin e lo Yang" reviewed by Serena Antinucci


Nata a L'Havana, naturalizzata svizzera, Yilian Cañizares è tra le più interessanti e promettenti artiste del jazz internazionale. Vincitrice alla Montreux Jazz Festival Competition nel 2008, ha pubblicato a suo nome, Ochumare nel 2013, Invocación nel 2015, e Águas, prodotto in collaborazione con Omar Sosa nel 2018. L'ultimo progetto della cantante, compositrice e violinista, dal titolo Erzulie, delinea un nuovo scenario musicale. Uscito un anno fa (15 novembre 2019), per l'etichetta Planeta Y (fondata dalla stessa Cañizares), è ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Yilian Cañizares, Wildflower, Shabaka Hutchings, Vincent Courtois & New Releases

Read "Yilian Cañizares, Wildflower, Shabaka Hutchings, Vincent Courtois & New Releases" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


Second part of our weekly exploration of new releases [for the first part click here], showcasing new and upcoming gems with a special focus on musical forces of nature like Cuban violinist and singer Yilian Cañizares, and prolific British reedist Shabaka Hutchings (check out his South African forays with his Shabaka and the Ancestors and with Idiosyncratic guitarist Sibusile Xaba!). A special mention for Chris McCarty's Still Time to Quit Project and the new album by Wildflower. ...

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Website

Tune in at All About Jazz for an intimate virtual home concert with Yilian Canizares & Raudol Palacios on April 26th

Tune in at All About Jazz for an intimate virtual home concert with Yilian Canizares & Raudol Palacios on April 26th

Source: Michael Ricci

Live from Baton Rouge via New York, please join us for a very special presentation of world-renounced violinist Yilian Canizares and cellist Raudol Palacios on Sunday, April 26th at 3:30pm ET from All About Jazz, Jazz Near You and Crowdcast. About Yilian Canizares Before she picks up her violin and walks onstage, Yilian Cañizares pays homage to her ancestors. Candles are lit. Prayers are said, and offerings made. Then as the houselights dim and her group of crack musicians file ...

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Video / DVD

Omar Sosa & Yilian Cañizares Music Video "Oshun" From The CD Aguas

Omar Sosa & Yilian Cañizares Music Video "Oshun" From The CD Aguas

Source: Omar Sosa

Following the October 2018 release of their acclaimed CD, Aguas, Omar Sosa & Yilian Cañizares are set to showcase their third music video, “Oshun," in support of the recording. Aguas is a beautiful and very personal album, reflecting the perspectives of two generations of Cuban artists living outside their homeland, interpreting their Afro-traditions in unique and subtle ways. The album is dedicated to water, and especially to Oshun, the Goddess of Love and Mistress of Rivers in the Lucumí tradition ...

"...the Swiss-Cuban musician closed out TEDGlobal>Geneva with two songs featuring catchy, rhythmic beats, soaring violin and gorgeous vocal work." TED GLOBAL GENEVA, December 2015

“First impressions of this concert, Yilian Cañizares know how to keep a room entertained with an intelligent show made of impulses and pauses. She caresses or tortures her violin, in accordance with her wishes. There is a furious bow that gets noticed. She can also sing, play percussion and dance...” L’archipel February 2014

“Latin jazz revelation of the year 2013, the graceful Yilian Cañizares sings, dances and plays the violin divinely…Her bow delivers notes like arrows and makes swing a colorful quartet that she had named Ochumare…”Nouvel Observateur, January 2014

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