Celebrated Cuban-American pianist and composer Fabian Almazan found his musical roots as a child in Havana where he was first introduced to the classical piano tradition. During the completion of his jazz piano bachelor's degree at the Manhattan School of Music, Fabian immersed himself in the realm of orchestral composition, studying instrumentation and orchestration with Mr. Giampaolo Bracali, and his musical journey took off from there. He has received two Grammy nominations and additional accolades include the SWR New Jazz Meeting Commission, Copland Fund, Jerome Fund for Emerging Composers Award, Jazz Gallery Residency, Rockerfeller Brothers Residency and Cintas Foundation Award in Composition.
As a performer, Fabian has developed a personal voice through the electric manipulation of the acoustic piano in live and studio settings. He has toured his music extensively as well collaborating with artists such as Terence Blanchard, Gretchen Parlato, John Hollenbeck, Mark Guiliana, Dave Douglas, Avishai Cohen and Ambrose Akinmusire. Most recently, Fabian can be heard in films Harriet, Chi-Raq, Red Tails and Miracle at St. Anna.
As an environmentalist and naturalist, Fabian travelled back to his birthplace where he made field recordings of endemic Cuban birds which were then Incorporated into This Land Abounds With Life, his most recent album as a leader. He is the founder and director of Biophilia Records and has worked diligently towards ensuring a continued dialogue of awareness concerning music and environmental justice.