Before she picks up her violin and walks onstage, Yilian Cañizares pays homage to her ancestors. Candles are lit. Prayers are said, and offerings made. Then as the houselights dim she'll lean down and touch the floor as she enters.
"This always puts me fully in the moment," says the vivacious Cuban singer and instrumentalist. "It allows the music and the ancestors to flow through me, to reach people even if they don't speak my language. I go into a trance when I perform live," she adds with a grin.
Indeed, all those who have marvelled at her fiery blend of jazz, classical and Afro-Cuban rhythms, will testify to feeling transformed by this talented young Havana-born, Swiss-based violinist and vocalist. "My sound is who I am: a woman. A Cuban. A musician. A citizen of the world," she says in her fluent, accented English," she declared with characetristic Cuban confidence.
Cañizares grew up in Vedado, the neighbourhood next to Havana's Plaza de la Revolution. Aged seven, she won a place at the prestigious Manuel Saumell music academy to study piano and violin. This was the austerity-hit 1990s, Cuba's so-called 'Special Period', and so when she was offered a scholarship to study in the then relatively wealthy Caracas, Venezuela, when she was just 14, Canizares took it.
Two years later, a masterclass with a visiting Swiss-based teacher changed her life, and Yilian soon found herself in western Switzerland, where big name orchestras beckoned. In Lausanne this young talented violinist spent six years with symphonies, concertos and operas.
And then, she quit.
"I was so inspired by [French jazz violinist] Stéphane Grappelli. The possibilities just blew me away. I wanted to translate this Grappelli universe to my tradition, and make it just as beautiful," she explains
Six month later the young Cuban’s Jazz quartet Ochumare (named after the orisha deity of rainbows) won the 2008 Montreux Jazz Festival Competition. It's been upwards ever since.
And so we meet Yilian Cañizares - a woman born in Cuba and living in Switzerland, with an Italian-made instrument: "He is like a partner, a lover. We complement each other." An artist as passionate about classical music as she is about jazz, salsa, hip hop and rhythms from elsewhere. A unique performer who, when called upon, is able to join voice and violin and express herself as an orchestra might. These are the Things That Matter to Yilian Cañizares:
My earliest memory is running through my house in Havana to welcome my grandfather when he came back home. He was my first love and would serenade me on the guitar. My childhood was full of love, joy, music and dreams. Every weekend I'd be taken to see a classical orchestra, jazz quartet or salsa band. My mother said I'd be chatting away, telling her I wanted to be up on the stage.
The albums of Pablo Milanes were the soundtarck to my childhood. At home we used to have them all in vinyl and he was part of our everyday life.
The most memorable book I’ve read is ‘La Edad de Oro’ by José Marti
The film that has made the most impression on me is ‘Amadeus’ by Milos Forman. It reminds me that success, recognition and talent do not always walk hand in hand. It reminds me to maintain humility in my work and gratitude to life.
The most influential figure in shaping my art is Nina Simone. And my mother…I owe everything to her. She is the person who gives me hope. She is my superhero
From my mother I’ve inherited perseverance. From my father, a temperament full of fire.
The hardest thing I’ve had to do was leave my family and my country at the age of 16. But I am making the music I love with people I admire.
The best piece of advice I’ve been given is ‘always play what your soul tells you to play’ (Omar Sosa said that to me recently)
The thing I love most is to play it in front of an audience…it's as simple as that! It’s the greatest blessing. I am making my dreams come true, touring the world, growing as an artist and going beyond what I thought were boundaries.
The last thing I celebrated was our double bill concert in France with Chucho Valdés. It was amazing !
The last thing that made me laugh was Omar talking about low chakras and natural wine at all of our promotional interviews, lol !
The last thing that made me cry….was talking with my grandmother by phone after I played with Omar and Chucho. She is 93 and she told me that I should know that if something happens to her tomorrow, she was leaving this world as the happiest woman on earth because she was very proud of me.
The thing I find most tedious is waking up early while we are touring. It’s really awful lol. Some people can't imagine how physically demanding it is to be a musician…
The most underrated virtue is patience
The living beings I most admire are my grandmother and my mother
Music makes me feel optimistic, because music is hope !
My favourite word is Amor (love)
My favourite question is ‘What do you want to eat ?’ (lol)
I believe in…love and hard work
I am sickened by…racism and lack of empathy
Yilian Cañizares will be playingside Omar Sosa in Jazz Cubano – A Showcase in the Barbican on November 23rd https://serious.org.uk/events/jazz-cubano-showcase
