Chucho Valdés

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Chucho Valdés in 2007.
Chucho Valdés in 2007.

Chucho Valdés (b. October 9, 1941), born Jesús Dionisio Valdés, is a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger. He was born in Quivicán, Cuba. In 1972 he founded the group Irakere, one of Cuba's best-known Latin jazz bands. Together with pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Valdés is revered as one of Cuba's greatest jazz pianists.

His father Bebo Valdés, also a pianist, is the former director of Havana's famous "Tropicana" night club. Bebo Valdés, who will turn 90 in 2008, is still actively performing, and won a Latin Grammy award in 2003 together with Israel "Cachao" López and Patato Valdés, and in 2005 together with flamenco singer Diego El Cigala for the CD 'Lágrimas Negras'.

Chucho has won three Grammy awards - one in 1978 for the album Live at Newport by Irakere, a second in 1998 for his contribution to the CD Havana by his band Crisol (formed in 1997), with two songs Mr. Bruce and Mambo para Roy written by Chucho, and the third in 2003 for his album Live at the Village Vanguard.

[edit] Selected Discography

  • Bele Bele en la Habana (1998)
  • Briyumba Palo Congo (1999)
  • Live at the Village Vanguard (2000)
  • Solo: Live In New York (2001)
  • Fantasia Cubana: Variations on Classical Themes (2002)
  • New Conceptions (2003)
  • Canciones Ineditas (2005)

[edit] External links

Cuba Portal


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