Piano solo concert with LEO BLANCO

• World Music

Leo Blanco's music is a vibrant tapestry of African and Latin American rhythms, European harmonies, jazz improvisation, and classical sound textures. A unique contribution to contemporary music, his deeply expressive and transcendent sound has captivated audiences worldwide.

About the artist: Born in Venezuela, Leo Blanco is a pianist, composer, producer, and musicologist. He lives in Boston, USA, where he is a professor at the prestigious Berklee College of Music and heads the Department of African Studies. He is also the Academic Music Director of the Berklee-Gnawa Music Program in Morocco, where he collaborates with outstanding musicians to explore the rich intersections between North African and contemporary music. From his foundational musical training at Venezuela's "El Sistema" to performances at prestigious festivals such as Montreux, Newport, and North Sea Jazz, Blanco's career is a journey of artistic discovery with global resonance. As a pianist and composer, he masterfully blends musical traditions, creating interpretations that combine virtuoso technique with deep emotional expressiveness. Among his numerous accolades, he was the first Latin American artist to receive the Boston Jazz Society Award in 2001.

Awards:

• Received Artist Fellowship Award from the Massachusetts Cultural Council (2021).

• Awarded by the City of Houston for his contribution to diversity and African American history through the lectures of The Sugar Road.

• "Angel Award" National Scottish Bank | "Best Musical Event" at Edinburgh International Festival (2014).

• Named one of the 40 most prominent public figures in Boston by Boston Magazine (2012).

• Recipient of an Endorsement by Billboard Magazine (2000).

• First Latin American artist to receive the Boston Jazz Society Award (2001).

• "Best Small Ensemble" by Jazz Time Magazine (1999).

• Massachusetts Cultural Fellowship Award (2021).

• “Leo Blanco Wins ‘The Bank of Scotland Herald Angel’ Award at the Edinburgh Festival 2010: ‘One man’s astonishing virtuosity marks the end of the festival receiving the Herald Angel Award.’” – By Keith Bruce, Editor

Press reviews: "Blanco is a phenomenon, and a warmly engaging one; technical refinement of this unaccompanied repertoire, which he has hitherto mostly restricted to his house, can only take him from strength to strength." – John Fordham, The Guardian (London, England).