In the Press
"The most rewarding musicians in the Latin jazz field are those who are connected to its rich tradition while simultaneously moving it forward with their own individual musical personalities and fresh ideas. Lannie Battistini has consistently followed his own path throughout his career. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, he started on the piano when he was five by the time he was 15, despite being largely self-taught, he was a professional musician. He studied and graduated from the Berklee College of Music, developed his own style playing jazz and pop music, became a notable arranger, composer and producer (establishing his studio LKB Music in Miami), toured with the Latin pop artist Olga Tanon, and became founder and CEO of Hands In Motion Music School & Productions which operates as a label, marketing agency, and music school. But even with all of those activities, Lannie Battistini has maintained a busy performance schedule and has continued growing as an Afro-Cuban pianist.
Proof of his inventive playing can be heard throughout his latest recording, Keys To The Groove 2.0. Battistini is featured in a trio with electric bassist Dr. Jose Valentino and percussionist Johnny Vergara. Together they perform six of the pianist’s compositions plus the standard “On Green Dolphin Street.”
A fast outburst on piano starts off the opening selection “Ascension” before the group settles into a medium-tempo Latin groove. Battistini’s modern harmonies blends in well with the traditional Cuban and Puerto Rico rhythms, resulting in an infectious and often bluesy performance.
“Samba For You” has the group taking listeners on a stimulating journey through Brazil. The fast samba features Battistini’s rhythmic piano really driving the trio even as he creates some speedy and impressive lines. “Final Destination” has a complex theme that displays the tightness of the group, an adventurous piano improvisation, a percussive bass solo, and prominent congas.
"Fionna,” a tribute to the pianist’s late daughter, is quietly emotional and has one of his strongest melodies of the set. More light-hearted is “Latino Blues,” a swinging cha-cha-cha blues. “On Green Dolphin Street,” which is Latinized and taken uptempo, is a fine workout for percussionist Vergara behind the inventive piano and bass solos. Keys To The Groove 2.0 concludes with “Sands Of Zion,” an intriguing piece inspired by Middle Eastern scales and harmonies. The blend of electric bass with percussion almost sounds like a tabla at times.
Keys To The Groove 2.0 is arguably Lannie Battistini’s finest recording to date, a trio outing that hints strongly at future developments in Latin jazz while revitalizing its tradition."
- Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian and author of 12 books including Afro-Cuban Jazz. July 4th, 2026.
- Vicente Toledo Rohena, Reportero, para la Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular, San Juan, Puerto Rico
"Transforming Musical Dreams in Reality: The Power of Vision and Action in Music Entrepreneurship" w/ Lannie Battistini & José Valentino
- José Valentino-Ruiz, International Journal of Music. 2023.
"Vision & Action: A Way of Entrepreneurship" w/ Lannie Battistini & José Valentino
- José Valentino-Ruiz & Lannie Battistini, University of Florida Music Building. 2023
- Article by Reilly Arts Center. ReillyArtsCenter.com. 2023.
— Article by Canvas Rebel. CanvasRevel.com. 2023.
"En su faceta como productor, es el artífice de sus grabaciones."
— Article by Vicente Toledo Rohena. Fundación Nacional Para La
Cultura Popular. 2021.
— Review by Scott Yanow, Jazz journalist/historian and contributor to DownBeat and Jazziz. 2019.
— George W. Harris, JazzWeekly.com.
— University of South Florida press release: USF Students Help Launch Grammy Winner’s Latest Studio Album. 2019.
- The Fox 96.7's LANNIE BATTISTINI & THE HANDS IN MOTION LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE. 2018.
- Artista de Latin-Jazz, Lannie Battistini regresa a Puerto Rico para presentarse en el Heineken Jazz Festival 2017
"Lannie Battistini, el virtuoso del piano, complació al público con un repertorio tropical del jazz….con exacta cadencia para un sabroso banquete musical. "
- Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz fest Review. April 2017.
"The virtuoso of [Lannie's] piano pleased the audience with a tropical repertoire... "
- Histórico cierre del PR Heineken Jazz Fest
Noticel.com. 2017.
'Battistini improvisations throughout the album contain a perfect balance of simplicity and melodic innovation.
“Motivo” is one of the most powerful and fast paced pieces on the album. Here Battistini has the opportunity to showcase his dexterity and improvisational skills. "
- Caribe Jazz Magazine - Review by Wilbert Sostre. 2014.
"Pianist Lannie Battistini’s sophomore CD, “Nomenclatura”, blew me away with the swinging “Motivo”, “Jangueando”, “El Cumbanchero”, “Contemplando”, “Lady Wisdom”, “Afincando”, “Latino Blues” and his skills as a composer. This is a huge jump from his debut and -one of the finest CD’s of 2014. "
- Herencia Latina, The Latin Jazz Recordings. 2014
'The virtuoso of [Lannie's] piano pleased the audience with a tropical repertoire... "
- Los Pitchy Review of Lannie Battistini's Nomenclatura. 2014.
"[Nomenclatura] provides a great fusion of various Latin music genres which transports the listener to numerous locations within Latin America. Lannie demonstrates his skills as a singer-songwriter, pianist and composer. "
- Chip Boaz, Latin Jazz Archives. July 17, 2014.
- El Condado De La Salsa y Latin Jazz
Herencia Latina, The Latin Sound Recordings in 2014.
' Well-achieved... one of our favorite songs of his, “Quiero Amarte Por Siempre,..."
- Solar Latin Club - Review. 2014.
Live Interview with Primera Hora Print Press, Puerto Rico, 2011
- Lannie Battistini presenta su nueva producción. primerahora.com.
"The pianist keeps a connection to jazz improvisation throughout the album, but never leaves the realms of commercial accessibility. . . [Battistini's album] Hands In Motion displays a broad commercial appeal that balances Latin Jazz and smooth jazz; for easy listeners in the Latin Jazz world, this release should be a goldmine. "
- Chip Boaz, Latin Jazz Corner. 2009.
"In a time where there are those who are trying to cling to what works, there are those who continue to reach for the stars! Keyboardist, songwriter, producer, arranger is doing just that. He sticks to his guns. He's not one of these artists that puts out music for the sake of selling records, but for his passion, dedication, and respect for the art (especially Latin Music) and of course, Latin Jazz. "
- Al Santana: Radio Show Host, WSJT FM Tampa. 2009.