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Chucho Valdes: Chucho Valdes Live!

By Paula Edelstein
June 1, 1999
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Cuban music legend, Jesus “Chucho” Valdes is fiery hot and still impacting the jazz world with his diverse musical elements. Riding the new wave in Latin jazz fostered by the pianist’s critically acclaimed Bele Bele en la Habana on Blue Note in 1998, Valdes reserved enough energy to excite his fans with an exquisite blend of technique and soul on Live. The CD, an infectious, collection of cubop grooves and rhythms, further develops the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz collective Chucho has been pulsating for the past 25 years as musical director of Irakere, the award-winning band he co-founded to play both music styles. “Tumbao,” and “Blues A Puerto Rico,” feature a variety of moods, melodies, synchopation and the signature solos of Chucho’s formidable piano. Along with the extra fire of his rhythm section, Live broadens Valdes’ Afro-Cuban perspective and the influences brimming in Carribean and Latin American life.

Personnel

Chucho Valdes

piano

Album information

Title: Chucho Valdes Live! | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: UNI/RMM

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About Chucho Valdes

Instrument: Piano

Concerts

May 4 Sat

Duets - Dianne Reeves, Chucho Valdés and Joe Lovano

Berklee Performance Center
Boston, MA

May 16 Thu

DUETS - Dianne Reeves - Joe Lovano - Chucho Valdés

92nd Street Y
New York, NY

May 17 Fri

Duets with Chucho Valdés and Joe Lovano

Chicago Symphony Center
Chicago, IL

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