Enrique Villegas - An Argentinian in New York

Enrique "Mono" Villegas born in Buenos Aires (August 3, 1913) into an aristocratic family. He studied piano under the guidance of the composer Alberto Williams. Trained in classical music, he soon abandoned this genre to embrace jazz. He held his first concert at the Teatro Odeón at 19 years old, and performed his first composition, "Jazzeta", in 1941. After forming some ensambles (notably the Santa Anita Sextet and Los Punteros) and collaborating to several recordings, he recorded the first album under his name in 1952.

In the mid-1950s he was put under contract by Columbia Records and moved to New York City; after two albums he decided to terminate the contract due to artistic disagreements with the label. He then toured extensively in Europe, United States and Latin America for eight years, before coming back in Buenos Aires where he formed two trio ensambles, first with Jorge López Ruiz and Eduardo Casalla, and then with Alfredo Remus and Néstor Astarita, and recorded several albums.

Enrique Villegas was the first jazz pianist to perform at famed Teatro Colón.

He died in Buenos Aires (July 11, 1986), from complications due to a hip broken in a car accident.

Enrique Villegas

Complete New York Sessions

1955-1957

The playing of Argentinian pianist Enrique Villegas (1913-1986) was unique, exciting and continuously interesting, with a special character of its own founded on his classical training and jazz inclinations. He moved to the United States in 1955, when he was already well-known in his country, with the intention of establishing himself in North America as a Jazz pianist. His nightclub debut at the Cafe Bohemia was an instant success, and his performances were acclaimed by both critics and public.

His career was already on its way, but two years after his arrival in New York, he drastically decided, due to artistic discrepancies with his record label, to return to Buenos Aires. This CD contains the two historic trio albums Villegas recorded during his stint in New York City. *Jordi Pujol*

Argentinian pianist Enrique "El mono" Villegas (1913-1986) was one of Argentina's biggest jazz exports, along with Gato Barbieri. He spent his exemplary career living and working in Buenos Aires, where he made his debut recording in 1944 and his last in 1977. To mark the 20th anniversay since his death in 1986, Fresh Sound Records has published this 2 LPs-on-1 CD compilation with the two terrific albums he recorded for the Columbia label in New York.

Villegas moved to the United States in 1955, when he was already well-known in his country, with the intention of establishing himself in North America as a professional jazz pianist. Although he didn't stay in USA that long, his nightclub debut at the Café Bohemia was an instant success, and his performances were acclaimed by both critics and public alike. This CD contains the only two historic trio albums Villegas recorded in studio during his stint in New York. *jazzmessengers.com*

1 - Ain't Misbehavin'

(Razaf, Waller, Brooks)

2 - Yesterdays

(Harbach, Kern)

3 - What Is This Thing Called Love

(Cole Porter)

4 - Chopin Prelude

(Frédéric Chopin)

5 - Lazy Bones

(Mercer, Carmichael)

6 - Where Or When

(Rodgers, Hart)

7 - Sometimes I'm Happy

(Caesar, Youmans)

8 - Embraceable You

(G. and I. Gershwin)

9 - Poor Butterfly

(Garner, Hubbell)

10 - Jelly Roll Blues

(Jelly Roll Morton)

11 - I Ain't Got Nobody

(Graham, Williams)

12 - Black Beauty

(Duke Ellington)

13 - Honeysuckle Rose

(Waller, Razaf)

14 - Rosetta

(Hines, Woods)

15 - Jumpin' At The Woodside

(Count Basie)

16 - Night In Tunisia

(Gillespie, Paparelli)

17 - Django

(John Lewis)

18 - Scruby

(Friedrich Gulda)

19 - Western Reunion

(Gerry Mulligan)

#1 to #9: from the album Introducing Villegas (Columbia CL 787)

Enrique Villegas (piano), Milt Hinton (bass), Cozy Cole (drums).

Recorded in New York City, September 8 and 9, 1955.

#10 to #19, from the album Very, Very Villegas (Columbia CL 877)

Enrique Villegas (piano), Milt Hinton (bass), Cozy Cole (drums).

Recorded in New York City, March 13, April 10 and May 2, 1957.