Chuchito Valdes May 13, 2010

"In a sense, Valdes and his band reinvigorated age old Cuban musical forms, the venerable cha-cha-cha and mambo standards revitalized by the muscular virtuosity of a mostly younger generation of players. This was jazz improvisation of the most sophisticated kind, with arcane chord changes and unexpected bursts of dissonance at almost every turn." ~Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

Born in Havana Cuba, Chuchito Valdés comes from one of the most distinguished musical families in Cuba.. He has recorded and performed piano with the world renown Cuban band, Irakere, which he led for 2 years. He has performed at festivals, clubs and concerts throughout the world: from Cuba and the Caribbean, across the United States and South America, and throughout Europe. Some of his worldwide appearances have included Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club in London and Green Dolphin Street in Chicago, The Jazz Festivals of Havana, Cancun and Merida, as well as a recent festival performance in San Francisco's Yerba Buena Music Festival. His ensemble was featured at the 19th International Havana Jazz Festival, as well as at the Cancun International Jazz Festival. The band has completed a successful U.S Tour last year performing concerts from Chicago to San Francisco. On Nov. 9th 2001 his band performed at Orchestra Hall In Detroit. In 2002 he was featured with his band at the Chicago Jazz Festival, The Detroit Jazz Festival, AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival, and the Brownsville Latin-Jazz Festival in Texas.

In his youth Chuchito has studied with many Cuban masters, one being his father, the great master Cuban pianist, Chucho Valdés. Following in his father's foosteps, Chuchito is now recognized as a master at Cuban music including Latin Jazz, Mambo, Danzon, Timba and Guaguanco. He has also extensively studied classical music including harmony and composition. When he is not travelling around the world performing, Chuchito lives in Cancun, Mexico where he leads his Afro-Cuban based Latin-Jazz ensemble. His original compositions and arrangements draw on classical harmonic and structural techniques. In his performances, Chuchitos music draws on many styles including Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz, Bebop, Danzon, Cha-Cha-Cha, Son Montuno and much more.