The use of the piano in Cuban music goes back a long way, paralleling its use in jazz. And the cross-influence between the two, from at least Jelly Roll Morton and Bebo Valdés (the father of Chucho), is not only considerable but, as far as I know, not much explored in print. Durán is something of an elder statesman and, now approaching his 70th birthday (an exact date seems unpublished) and therefore a decade younger than Chucho, has been based in Toronto since 1998.

By contrast, Virelles is pushing 40 and, after studying in Toronto thanks to Jane Bunnett, was drawn to people like Steve Coleman and Henry Threadgill and, moving to New York, has made several appearances on ECM. What transpires from their two days in the studio (after previously working together online during the pandemic) is a fascinating and joyous collaboration that's unsurprisingly melodic and, of course, abundantly rhythmic.

Much of the material is composed by Durán especially for this project, but there are also flamboyant arrangements of Cuban and North American standards such as Lecuona's ‘Danza Lucumi’ and even ‘Body And Soul’. Enjoy.