Cuba’s greatest pianist returns to graces the stage once more at the Barbican, this time with his Octet the Afro Cuban Messengers performing tracks from their eagerly anticipated new release ‘Chucho’s Step’ (Harmoni Mundi). Opening the evening is French/Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf who uniquely combines jazz and classical Arabic music.

“Chucho is a titanic pianist drawing on the heritage of Cuba’s Afro-Cuban music as well as the likes of Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner and Bud Powell. He’s a one-man piano whirlwind whipping up an Afro-Cuban jazz storm.” – Time Out

“Valdés’s octave span might even have frightened Rachmaninov, and his headlong keyboard exploits traverse most of jazz piano history, and often veering into classical.” – John Fordham, The Guardian

Chucho Valdés Biography

“Chucho started his first jazz trio at the age of 16 and founded Irakere in 1972 while playing with the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna. An incredibly inventive and fluid pianist, Chucho combines the influences of musicians such as Art Tatum, Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner with Afro-Cuban roots and a blazing technique that leaves one breathless and amazed. He writes most of the band’s compositions and arrangements and has released dozens of albums, both with Irakere and as a solo performer.

Chucho is revered as a national treasure in Cuba, the Duke Ellington of his country. He receives the admiration and thanks of his people in a way that the Duke never did in his lifetime. When you hear current Cuban jazz or popular music, whether Gonzalo Rubalcaba, N.G. La Banda or Charanga Habanera, you hear the influence of Chucho Valdés and Irakere.” Afrocubaweb.com