Fabian Almazan is a jazz pianist, composer, and film score composer born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Miami, Florida.
Education
Pianist Conchita Betancourt graciously taught Almazan free of charge for over three years, allowing him to audition for the New World School of the Arts in Miami, Florida where he studied from 1998 to 2002. In 2003, Almazan moved to New York City, where he studied with Kenny Barron at the Manhattan School of Music. While pursuing his Bachelor"s degree, Almazan studied instrumentation and orchestration with Giampaolo Bracali.
Career
In addition to being a solo artist, Almazan has held the piano chair in Jazz Trumpeter Terence Blanchard"s band since 2007. Fabian Almazan began studying classical piano at an early age in his homeland, Havana. In 2002, Almazan was selected for the piano chair in the National Grammy High School Jazz Combo.
Under Bracali, Almazan composed pieces for orchestra and chamber ensembles.
In 2009, Almazan received his Master"s degree from Manhattan School of Music, as a recipient of the Michael West. Greene Scholarship, studying privately with Jason Moran. In 2011, Almazan was selected as one of six composers to participate in the Sundance Institute Composers" Laboratory, where he studied with such acclaimed film composers as George South. Clinton, Peter Golub, Harry Gregson-Williams, Editor Shearmur, Alan Silvestri, and Christopher Young.
Since 2007, Almazan has toured extensively with the Terence Blanchard Quintet, of which he is a current member. Almazan is said to be "one of the great young talents of his generation” by Blanchard.
Almazan has also performed alongside esteemed artists such as Gretchen Parlato, Paquito Doctorate"Rivera, Christian Scott, Chris Dingman, David Sanchez, Stefon Harris, Kendrick Scott, and Ambrose Akinmusire, among others
Personalities, Almazan"s debut album as a leader, was released in October 2011 on Biophillia/Palmetto Records, and featured Linda Oh, Henry Cole, Meg Okura, Megan Gould, Karen Waltuch, and Noah Hoffeld. Almazan "demonstrates intuitive control over Latin jazz repertoire and feeling" and his music is referred to as "intense and crystalline", "multifaceted and intriguing", and full of "unexpected twists". Almazan"s latest album, Rhizome, released in the Spring of 2014 was the very first project to be released on the joint label Blue Note/ArtistShare.