Δυναστεία Valdes.
Οικογένεια Valdes. Τρεις γενιές με ιστορία και παράδοση στη μουσική. Πιανίστες, συνθέτες και ενορχηστρωτές που υπηρέτησαν και υπηρετούν πιστά τη Κουβανέζικη μουσική και γενικότερα την τζαζ.
Bebo Valdés (born Ramón Emilio Valdés Amaro in Quivicán, Havana, 9 October 1918) is a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger. He was a central figure in the golden age of Cuban music, led two famous big bands, and was one of the 'house' arrangers for the Tropicana Club.[1]
Valdés started his career as a pianist in the night clubs of Havana during the 1940s. From 1948 to 1957 he worked as pianist and arranger for the vedette Rita Montaner, who was the lead act in the Tropicana cabaret. His orchestra Sabor de Cuba, and that of Armando Valdés, alternated at the Tropicana backing singers such as Benny More and Pío Leyva. Valdés played a role in the development of the mambo during the 1950s, and developed a new rhythm to compete with Perez Prado's mambo, called the batanga. Valdés was also an important figure in Cuban jazz and taking part in the Panart Cuban jazz sessions (one was commissioned by American producer Norman Granz). In the late 1950s he recorded with Nat 'King' Cole.
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Chucho Valdés (born Jesús Dionisio Valdés in Quivicán, Cuba, October 9, 1941) is a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger. 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 is the famed Cuban pianist and former director of Havana's famous "Tropicana" night club band Bebo Valdés.
Chucho has won four Grammy awards: in 1978 for the album Live at Newport by Irakere; 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; in 2003 for his album Live at the Village Vanguard; and in 2011 for his album Chucho's Steps.
On 16 October 2006, Chucho Valdés was nominated Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Είναι γιος ενός από τους μεγαλύτερους πιανίστες του κόσμου, του Chucho Valdés, και εγγονός ενός από τους πιο σημαντικούς καλλιτέχνες της αφρο-κουβανέζικης μουσικής, του Bebo Valdés. Για τον "Chuchito" Valdés Jr, τα πράγματα ήταν απλά, σαν μια φυσική εξέλιξη, για τη μουσική του πορεία, παρόμοια με του πατέρα του και του παππού του. Είναι αυτό που λέμε «Το μήλο κάτω από τη μηλιά θα πέσει», ούτε πόντο παραπέρα. Και ήταν φυσικό τα πρώτα μουσικά ακούσματα να τα έχει από τον πατέρα του. Για τον Chuchito, η σημαντικότερη επιρροή πάνω του, εκτός του πατέρα του, είναι και του συγκροτήματος Irakere, που σαν έφηβος, πέρασε δύο χρόνια παίζοντας σε αυτό, στα τέλη του 1990, όταν ο πατέρας του αποφάσισε να ακολουθήσει σόλο καριέρα.
Chuchito Valdes
Jesus “Chuchito” Valdés - (Pianist, arranger, composer, bandleader)
Born in Havana Cuba, Chuchito Valdes 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 during December of 2000, at the 19th International Havana Jazz Festival, as well as at the Cancun International Jazz Festival in May of 2001 & 2002. The band 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 he studied with many Cuban masters, such as the great Cuban pianist, Chucho Valdes (who also happens to be his father). Chuchito is recognized as a master at Cuban music including Mambo, Danzon, and Cuban 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, Chuchito’s music draws on many styles including Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz, Bebop, Danzon, Cha-Cha- Cha,
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Γεννημένη στις 20 Απριλίου 1956, η Mayra αποφοίτησε το περίφημο Escuela Nacional de Arte της Κούβας το 1975. Το 1980 κέρδισε το πρώτο βραβείο σε διαγωνισμό για ερασιτέχνες σολίστες. Το 1981, όταν Harry Belafonte την άκουσε να τραγουδάει, της ζήτησε να τον συνοδεύσει σε συναυλία του στην Κούβα. Έτσι ξεκίνησε η καριέρα της η Mayra Caridad Valdés και στη συνέχεια περιόδευσε στην Ιαπωνία και την Ευρώπη ως σολίστ και με διάφορες ομάδες, συμπεριλαμβανομένης της Irakere.
Mayra Caridad Valdés
Mayra Caridad Valdes — sister of the prolific Cuban jazz pianist Chucho Valdés — was just a little girl when her esteemed father, Bebo Valdes, left the island nation after the 1959 Cuban Revolution (along with a trail of stars such as Celia Cruz, José Fajardo and Olga Guillot). She never had any remorse about his departure. The elder Valdés eventually settled in Sweden, where he still resides at the ripe age of 83 years, and Mayra feels very good about keeping the Valdés' musical torch burning.
"It's a great honor to be complimented by my father, who is an incredible musician," Mayra commented from her Havana home in early November 2001. "I admire and respect him very much, and those words comfort me and make me feel good. I'm also his baby girl."
As a youngster she studied piano, but by her teen years she found more satisfaction as a singer. At home, around Chucho, she ingested a steady diet of jazz artists, listening to Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and Billie Holiday.
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