Frank Villafañe
Punto De Vista
Viewpoint “Frank’s passion for the wealth of La4n rhythms is clear; he
takes the listener on a journey to Brazil, Cuba and back, and
he does it all himself – from the performing to the
produc4on.”
Rebeca Mauleon – Musician, Composer, Educator
and author of The Salsa Guidebook
“Punto De Vista (ViewPoint) features wonderful wri4ng, performing and
recording by New Jersey based pianist/composer Frank Villafañe…
infec4ous rhythms, slashing piano, ingenious changes with just enough
montuno, and it grooves throughout…a formidable one‐person project
that balances technology and superb musicianship to leave you wan4ng
more.”
Ma= Finley – Flugelhorn arAst and leader of Rio Jazz
Track LisAng:
1. Esperando (Wai4ng) 2. Brisas del Caribe (Caribbean Breezes) 3. Obsesion (Obsession) 4. Porque Tu Sufres (Why Do You Suffer)
5. Despechado (Unwanted) 6. Never Enough Time (Nunca Hay Tiempo) 7. My Teacher (Maestro) 8. Misunderstanding (Malentendido)
9. Realiza4on (Realizacion) 10. Poignancy (Nostalgia)
Punto De Vista (ViewPoint), Frank Villafañe’s latest release, blends tradi4onal La4n rhythms and forms with contemporary technology. Con4nuing his
pioneer concept of virtual La4n jazz – La4n jazz that is completely in the digital realm – Frank incorporates modern inven4ve style with electronica and
strikes a balance between the established and the unconven4onal. His music is an eclec4c instrumental mix with a strong melodic basis planted firmly in
classical theory, yet permeated with new world rhythm and harmony; Afro‐Cuban and Brazilian percussion punctua4ng and embellishing each musical
statement in a synergis4c blend that is greater than the sum of its parts. Consis4ng of seven original composi4ons, two La4n standards, and one La4n
adapta4on of a classical waltz, this is an atypical La4n jazz release. With his first CD, South Beach, Frank introduced virtual La4n jazz;
in Punto De Vista (ViewPoint) Frank raises the bar and adds the finishing touch.
Frank Villafañe is a La4n‐Jazz pianist, composer and arranger. He plays piano con clave in the styles of Eddie Palmieri, Sergio Mendes and Pedro ‘Peruchin’
Jus4z, who he cites as his main influences. Born in Bremerhaven, Germany, the son of Mike and Elfriede Villafañe, Frank grew up all over the United States
and Europe, and experienced mul4culturalism first‐hand. Musically, as in life, Frank's upbringing was fairly eclec4c, being exposed to La4n, Jazz, Calypso,
Folk, and the Classics early on. He began piano lessons in earnest at the tender age of 8. His interest in music was sustained throughout his reloca4ons to
two con4nents during his forma4ve years. At twelve, Frank moved to Puerto Rico, where his 7th grade music teacher provided the impetus fueling his
musical direc4on, when he heard an original copy of Maple Leaf Rag played by the composer Scon Joplin. Moving back to the States, at Whiteman Air Force
Base in Missouri, Frank acquired the musical form Rag4me and earned his first paying "gig" as a professional musician at the age of 14, where he
performed many Rag4me favorites by Scon Joplin and other Rag4me greats, for the Officers Club at a Roaring 20’s theme party. Frank received his formal
musical training at Rutgers University where he studied with jazz greats Kenny Barron, Walter Bishop Jr., Ted Dunbar, Frank Foster and others.
Frank has played extensively with numerous La4n Jazz and Salsa conjuntos for the last 30 years, and has opened twice for Eddie Palmieri (one of his
aforemen4oned influences) and has shared the stage with such La4n luminaries as Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Richie Flores, Mario Rivera, Louis
Romero, Alfredo De La Fe, Chris Washburne, and many others.
Punto De Vista (ViewPoint) represents the culmina4on of a musical journey that incorporates the experience and influence of many different sources ‐
combined, compressed and reformulated into a cohesive whole that perfectly showcases Frank’s “viewpoint”, and 3 To Clave is his exci4ng new la4n jazz
ensemble recently formed to present this “viewpoint” to the world at large.
Frank Villafañe | www.frankmv.com | frankmv@yahoo.com

Is an exciting new group designed to
showcase the music of Frank Villafañe.
Nice work on the CD…I'm glad to know you are playing out. Your music deserves
to be heard and played by others.
Santa Salsera, On-Air host, ‘Azucar Y Candela’, WXDU 88.7 FM
The group consists of four exceptional musicians:
Robert Carrero, Larry Evans, Victor Mendoza and Frank Villafañe. Their
set list consists of music from Frank’s recent recording, Punto De Vista (ViewPoint),
and a variety of selections from the Latin Jazz songbook. 3 To Clave’s music is
perfect for public or private affairs.
Robert Carrero – Percussion
Robert began drumming at the age of 15, and studied percussion with Gene Golden and Frank Malabe at the Drummer’s Collective.
Robert plays Congas, Bongos, and all manner of hand percussion, and has done so for over 30 years. He’s played/recorded both
here and abroad with many Latin professionals of renown including Orquesta Broadway, Luis Perico Ortiz, Jose Alberto “El Canario”,
Manny Oquendo y Conjunto Libre, Charanga 76, Celia Cruz, “Cachao” Lopez, “Chocolate” Armenteros, Mauricio Smith, and many others.
Larry Evans - Drums
Drumming since 1967, Larry studied with Norman Grossman and is equally versed with both latin and jazz styles. Larry has
played extensively with a number of bands and orchestras including the US Navy Official Band, Steve Scott Orchestra, Charlie
Palmieri, Mauricio Smith, Willie Rodriguez and many other ensembles, large and small. Larry’s musical career has covered an
extensive area, from the famous “Borscht Circuit” in the Catskills, all the way down to Virginia and the Carolinas.
Victor Mendoza – Bass
Victor actually began playing and studying the drums at the age of 9. At 16, he picked up the bass and studied with Chuck
Mangione’s Bass player, Chip Jackson, and played his first “gig” at 18 with Charanga America. Over the years, Victor played with
many local bands in NY and NJ, including Millie Y Los Vecinos, Larry Harlow and Joe Quijano.
Frank Villafañe – Keyboards, director
Frank began playing piano at the age of 8, and has been composing since he was 15. Frank received his formal musical training at
Rutgers University where he studied with jazz greats Kenny Barron, Walter Bishop Jr., Ted Dunbar and Frank Foster. Frank has
played/recorded extensively with numerous Latin Jazz & Salsa conjuntos over the last 30 years, and has shared the stage with
such Latin Jazz luminaries as Eddie Palmieri, Richie Flores, Mario Rivera, Louis Romero and Alfredo De La Fe, among others.
Frank Villafañe & 3 To Clave is a superb quartet with extensive experience,
precise delivery and an exciting repertoire!
For bookings please contact frankmv@yahoo.com or call 732-688-1467.