Ian Villafana
Encyclopedia
Ian Villafana is a smooth jazz
guitarist
, recording artist, and songwriter
. Villafana currently resides in southern Louisiana near the city of New Orleans.
As the son of a Trinidadian pianist
, Villafana was introduced to many styles and genres of music at a young age. His influences ranged from the Beatles to George Benson
. He learned from renowned local artists such as Clive Zanda, Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe, Raf Robertson, Earl Rodney, and Toby Tobias. Villafana eventually began recording albums with calypsonians Lord Kitchener
, Superblue
/Blue Boy, Valentino, and Crazy
to name a few.
Blending Calypso music
and jazz
with influences of bossa nova
allowed Villafana to form his own unique style. He entertained crowds in Trinidad
and St. Croix with solo guitar performances and jazz television/radio appearances. He also played the double bass
with Jimmy Hamilton
, who is most known for performing with Duke Ellington
. While in St. Croix, Villafana made acquaintances with the likes of Ed Cherry and Dizzy Gillespie
. Cherry introduced Ian to the methods of Joe Pass
, which strongly influenced his playing style.
Villafana initially moved to the United States with hopes of enrolling in the prestigious Berklee College of Music
. He ultimately obtained an industrial job and started a family in Louisiana, while playing R&B gigs with local musicians. Villafana's musical career was given a boost upon meeting the musician/producer, Quintin Gerard W. Shortly after performing recordings for Gerard's second album, Gerard inspired Villafana to record his own music. This led to the 2010 release of Epiphany, his first solo studio album.
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, recording artist, and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. Villafana currently resides in southern Louisiana near the city of New Orleans.
As the son of a Trinidadian pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, Villafana was introduced to many styles and genres of music at a young age. His influences ranged from the Beatles to George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
. He learned from renowned local artists such as Clive Zanda, Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe, Raf Robertson, Earl Rodney, and Toby Tobias. Villafana eventually began recording albums with calypsonians Lord Kitchener
Lord Kitchener (calypsonian)
Aldwyn Roberts , better known by the stage name Lord Kitchener , was one of the most internationally famous calypsonians. He was the son of a blacksmith, Stephen, and homemaker, Albertha.-Life:...
, Superblue
Superblue
Austin Lyons , better known as Superblue, Super Blue, and Blueboy, is a Trinidad and Tobago calypsonian, soca musician, ICON and lyricist.-Person:...
/Blue Boy, Valentino, and Crazy
Crazy (calypsonian)
Edwin Ayoung is better known as Crazy is a Trinidad and Tobago calypsonian.Ayoung was born to Chinese Trinidadian father and a Venezuelan mother. Often called the "Loveable Lunatic of Soca", he is artistically underrated in his native land but one of the most commercially successful artists on...
to name a few.
Blending Calypso music
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
with influences of bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
allowed Villafana to form his own unique style. He entertained crowds in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
and St. Croix with solo guitar performances and jazz television/radio appearances. He also played the double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
with Jimmy Hamilton
Jimmy Hamilton
Jimmy Hamilton was an American jazz clarinetist, tenor saxophonist, arranger, composer, and music educator, best known for his twenty-five years with Duke Ellington....
, who is most known for performing with Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
. While in St. Croix, Villafana made acquaintances with the likes of Ed Cherry and Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
. Cherry introduced Ian to the methods of Joe Pass
Joe Pass
Joe Pass was an Italian-American jazz guitarist of Sicilian descent. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century...
, which strongly influenced his playing style.
Villafana initially moved to the United States with hopes of enrolling in the prestigious Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
. He ultimately obtained an industrial job and started a family in Louisiana, while playing R&B gigs with local musicians. Villafana's musical career was given a boost upon meeting the musician/producer, Quintin Gerard W. Shortly after performing recordings for Gerard's second album, Gerard inspired Villafana to record his own music. This led to the 2010 release of Epiphany, his first solo studio album.