Valdes, Chucho
Malanga Music, 2007, CD
Instrument: Piano
Issue: 13.3
Jazz Ruler Type: Latin
Performance: 3
Sound: 3
Score: 
O’s Notes: This CD is a combination of two Valdes albums from 1964 released for the first time outside of Cuba. Chucho leads a band with some of Cuba’s finest musicians. He learned to play the piano at age 3 watching his dad, Bebo play! Chucho has always considered himself a student but learned one of his most valuable lessons as a young boy in Havana’s Municipal Conservatory: to play with expression. Aside from incredible dexterity, Valdes makes the piano speak and with a lot of dynamic drama! It is a pleasure to hear him play. Our favorites were “Tanganika” and “Chiquitco” among many strong selections. The young Valdes was as brilliant then as he is today at 65 with five Grammies and numerous other decorations under his wings.
Publicist: Music Video Distributors
