Hilario Duran Solo Piano Concert

7:00 PM - doors open , dinner available -- reserve at lula.ca or call 416 797 4890

8:00 to 9:00 PM concert

1) Purchase your ticket now through Eventbrite to secure your spot!

2) Check out Lula's new dinner menu below, then visit Lula.ca to reserve for dinner and guarantee seating.

To accompany this concert, we'll be offering our Latin fusion a la carte dinner menu. A $39 prix fixe option also available! (Dinner price does not include the ticket.)

-- APPETIZERS --

jalapeños toreados - $9 roasted peppers with caramelized onions

ensalada azteca - $12 mixed greens, tomatoes, red onions, avocado and roasted corn in a lime vinaigrette, topped with crispy tortilla slivers

shrimp ceviche - $13 with fresh mango, cilantro and lime

guacamole - $11 with tomatoes and red onion, served with freshly made corn tortilla chips

 birria consomé - $12 traditional mexican soup with lime chilies and fresh onion slivers

taco - $8 your choice of our signature tacos: carnitas (roast pork) pollo (grilled chicken & caramelized onions) portobello mushroom (vegan) 

-- MAINS --

mole poblano de pollo - $22 breast of chicken in a rich sauce of mild ancho and guajillo chiles, sesame seeds, peanuts, coriander and chocolate

costillas a la mexicana - $30 slow-cooked beef short ribs topped with caramelized onions and tomatoes, served with seasonal vegetables

pork carnitas - $22 tender pork shoulder, slowly cooked, with a chipotle peach compote, served with seasonal vegetables

pescado de la casa - $21 grilled basa fish with fresh mixed greens, tomatoes, avocado and red onions

vegan fajitas - $19 fresh corn tortillas with grilled portobello mushrooms, red pepper and onions

-- DESSERTS --

tres leches - $9 traditional light sponge cake with strawberries, soaked in sweet milk

cheese flan - $9 baked custard topped with caramel and red berry reduction

chocolate brownie - $9 with whipped cream

fruit cocktail - $9 market fresh fruits with berry reduction

“Hilario Duran is an unparalleled pianist, as well as being a composer and arranger of the first order… one of the greatest Cuban pianists of the 20th century”

– Chucho Valdes

Cuban born Hilario Durán grew up in Havana in a musical family surrounded by a variety of diverse musical influences on a daily basis. He began working as a professional musician in Cuba’s Los Papa Cun­-Cun Ensemble and in a variety of musical formats. Later on, in the 70’s, Durán was Chucho Valdés’ chosen successor in Cuba’s most modern big band, Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna.

Hilario Durán toured worldwide and performed with Dizzy Gillespie and Michel Legrand, among many others, as part of Arturo Sandoval’s band where he was pianist/keyboardist, arranger and musical director for 9 years.

Chucho Valdés has acknowledged Hilario Durán as one of the greatest Cuban pianists of the 20th century, calling the Grammy-nominated and multi JUNO-award winner “an unparalleled pianist, composer and arranger of the first order”.

After making his mark in Cuba, Durán continued to hone his skills as a pianist, composer, arranger and musical director of remarkable virtuosity. Since arriving in Canada, Hilario has made a name for himself, he is a multi-Canadian Juno Award winner and nominee; an American Grammy nominee; a multi-Canadian National Jazz Award winner & nominee; and the proud recipient of the 2007 Chico O’Farrill Lifetime Achievement Award, from Latin Jazz USA, for his outstanding contributions to Afro-Cuban Jazz and Latin Jazz.

Cuban-Canadian jazz pianist Hilario Durán is a fixture on the Toronto music scene. Durán immigrated in 1998 to Canada and was named as One of the 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians in 2009. Hilario has been named Best Artist of the Year 2013 by the Toronto Musicians’ Association and also as 2014 Best Vision Award Winner (Premio a la Trayectoria) for his work as entrepreneur as a director of his musical company, ES MI MUSICA PRODUCTIONS. He is also an educator at Toronto’s Humber College, acting as a piano teacher and ensemble director.

Hilario Durán has been based in Toronto for the past two decades, but his musical heart and soul have remained closely connected to the land of his birth. He has continued to collaborate with Cuban musicians, but he takes this to another level on Contumbao. In November 2016, Alma Records’ Peter Cardinali and award-winning engineer John ‘Beetle’ Bailey accompanied Durán to Havana, and the team set up shop in Cuba’s famed EGREM recording studio, the most storied such facility on the island. The cast of musical heavyweights assembled in Havana work their magic on 11 new Durán original compositions. Hilario’s mission is certainly fulfilled here, as Contumbao has an impressive dynamic range of different tempos, tones and moods.

In accordance with provincial regulation, clients will be required to provide proof of double vaccination at the door in order to enter the venue.

Masks will be required except when clients are eating or drinking.

In order to facilitate contact tracing, a name and contact information will be required for each ticket purchased whether in advance or at the door.

We thank you for working with us to keep our community as safe as possible.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Canada