Amadito Valdés

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A faithful exponent of Cuban music and jazz in Cuba and the world. In addition to his artistic career, he has shared his knowledge as a professor with several generations of young Cuban musicians. He worked in various Cuban orchestras, although his mark for almost 30 years set the accompanying rhythm of the quartet Las D'Aida, one of the most important female choral groups in the Latin world.

Cuban popular music flows through the veins of Amadito Valdés (nominated for a Grammy in 2003), who found in his own father—of the same name—and in Walfredo de los Reyes two irreplaceable masters. For more than 40 years, stages around the world have known his unique style and personal charisma. Essentially a timpani player, a percussionist by fiber, in short, Amadito worked in various important Cuban orchestras, although his mark for almost 30 years set the accompanying rhythm of the quartet Las D'Aida, one of the most important female choral groups in the Latin world.

He began his artistic career with the Combo Universitario, with which in 1963 he toured France, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. In 1964 he joined the group Los Chicos del Jazz, with Rembert Egües, Sergio Vitier, Fabián García, Paquito D'Rivera, and Carlitos Godínez. He has been part of the groups Tres Más Uno and that of Samuel Téllez, the orchestras Benny Moré, Caribe, of the Habana Libre hotel; Casino Parisién, of the Hotel Nacional, and the accompanying group of the vocal quartet Las D'Aida.

He was a member of the orchestra that accompanied the show Rosita Fornés Tridimensional presented at the Karl Marx Theater in Havana, and the show presented by the Tropicana Cabaret at the Gran Casino in Barcelona, Spain, 1984. In 1989 he participated in a concert offered by the UMO orchestra, directed by Chico O'Farrill, at the Hesperia Hotel in Finland; in 1991 he participates with the group IRAZU, directed by Raúl Gutiérrez, at the Jazz Fest Munchen, celebrated in Munich, Germany, and also performs in Düsseldorf with the group Salsa Picante, which spreads Latin American music in Europe; with singer Emilia Morales, he participates in the International Fair Caravan'93, Toronto, Canada; in 1997, with Afro Cuban All Stars, directed by Juan de Marcos González, and made up of Pío Leyva, Raúl Planas, Manuel Licea (Puntillita), Ibrahim Ferrer, Félix Baloy, Rubén González, Orlando López (Cachaíto), Guillermo Rubalcaba, and Jesús Ramos (Aguaje), he tours England, Ireland, France, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, Austria, and Spain.

In 1998 he was invited by World Circuit and Nonesuch Records to participate in the Grammy Awards presentation in New York. That same year he performed with Buena Vista Social Club at the Carre Theater, Amsterdam, Holland and at Carnegie Hall, New York. He performs, 1998, with Afro Cuban All Stars at the World Music and Jazz Europa festivals; Mussiques Matisses, France; Dunya Festival, Holland; Druga Godba, Slovenia; Masalla, Germany; Paleo, Switzerland; Water Festival, Sweden; Aldeburgh Festival, England; Antilles Feesten Festival, Belgium; North Sea Jazz, Holland; Festival de Mar de Música, Spain. Around that same time he performs, with this musical group, on various stages in the United States: Conga Room and Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, California; Roxy Theatre, Boston; Lisner Auditorium, Washington; NJ Performing Arts, Newark; Town Hall, New York; Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, California. In Canada he performed at Massey Hall, Toronto, and Le Spectrum, Montreal. In 2000 he traveled to Japan to participate in the presentation of a recording he made, among others, with Rubén Blades, Jerry González, Ribie Ameen, and Horacio Hernández (El Negro).

He has performed under the batons of Gonzalo Roig, Tony Taño, Arturo O'Farrill (Chico), Rafael Somavilla, Leo Brouwer, Manuel Duchesne Cuzán, and Adolfo Guzmán.

Starting in 1997 he became part of what is currently identified as the "Buena Vista Social Club" project—in direct reference to the album of the same name worthy of a Grammy award (1998)—in particular, the Afro Cuban All Stars orchestra and the group of the renowned pianist Rubén González.

Along with other stars of this international popularity phenomenon, he has performed in the most prestigious entertainment venues on the planet and currently, since 2002, after presenting in the world market Bajando Gervasio (nominated for a Grammy in 2003), his first album leading as a soloist, he dedicates himself to developing his artistic project which includes, in addition to recordings and performances, an unpublished book, a unique clinic, a plastic arts exhibition, and other interesting musical endeavors.

His international image, projected by the documentary "Buena Vista Social Club," by German filmmaker Wim Wenders, has earned him the nickname "The most seen timpani player" after the legendary Tito Puente among the news media. Among his most recent performances, Valdés, as part of a cast of Buena Vista Social Club stars, performed in Mexico City at the prestigious venues Auditorio Nacional and Plaza de los Mártires de la Revolución, on May 22 and June 2, respectively, of 2002.

The events were a resounding success with both the public and critics, who emphasized that after some years the main figures of the mythical phenomenon reunited. In particular, the Auditorio concert was so memorable that it won one of the renowned Luna awards in its category, traditional tropical music, granted by that prestigious Mexican cultural institution in the fall of 2002.

Precisely on that occasion, the master taught his clinic on June 3, 2002 sponsored by Gonher, distributor there of the Amadito Valdés Model timpani by MEINL—with formidable sales to date—and of which he is also senior endorsee. The master class took place on the first floor of the RJD Gallery in the Mexican capital and marked the premiere of the new program "Suena el Timbal Amadito," with a review of ten different rhythms of Cuban popular music.

Also in 2002 and as part of the international promotion of "Bajando Gervasio" (nominated for a Grammy in 2003), Amadito performed from July 4 to 7 at the renowned "Motion Blue" club in the city of Yokohama, which was a true success highlighted by the Japanese press.

Already in February 2003 and at the request of the Mexican public, the figures of "Buena Vista Social Club" returned to the prestigious Auditorio of the Mexican capital and once again Amadito was one of the invited stars. On that occasion he had the pleasant surprise of being congratulated by Café Flor de Azalea, an establishment that decided to install permanently a plaque in tribute to this Cuban timpani player.

In July of that year (2003) Amadito was invited to display his art on a bolero album, Aún Te Quiero, by Spanish singer Monserrat, resident in Brazil, recorded in Havana, which will be presented to the market soon and which foresees a concert in Sao Paulo next year. He also shared with Cuban artists of the caliber of Jesús "Chucho" Valdés, César Portillo de la Luz, Pablo Milanés, and Pío Leyva, among others.

In September 2003 Amadito participated in the recording of what will be Omara Portuondo's next album; these sessions were held in the studios of the Egreem (Havana) and were sponsored by the World Circuit label and which brings together Cuban and Brazilian musical talent, among them the renowned guitarist Swamy Jr and the prominent producer Alé Siqueira, who just received a Latin Grammy for his album "Tribalistas."

In September 2003 an exclusive photo of Amadito was exhibited in the SGAE gallery at the Lonja del Comercio in Havana, along with other snapshots of prominent Cuban artists who smoke Havana cigars, in a personal exhibition by photographer Alberto Arcos.

Amadito Valdés's personal album, Bajando Gervasio (nominated for a Grammy in 2003), is a singular recording in many ways, so much so that it convinces both experts and newcomers alike that finally the timpani inaugurates the perfect melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic balance with the instrumental universe of the orchestra.

Amadito displays the maturation of his musical philosophy—emphasized by keen exegetes of his work such as Ry Cooder, Nick Gold, and Wim Wenders, among others—of subtle emphasis and measured exaltation that form a peculiar percussive poetic. It goes from the solo that corresponds to his role as leader to the solicitous accompaniment of a discreet host in his mastery, committed to the brilliance of a stellar ensemble, which combines generations that rubbed shoulders with the greats of the golden era like Fabián García to vigorous exponents of the new wave like Roberto Fonseca.

In this album Cuban popular music rises to the concert halls without losing the path of its primary nutritive sources, in a journey that is at once transgeneric with coherence as forceful as it is imperceptible, like a fine garment whose seams cannot be seen. The talent of producer Juan de Marcos González displays in this work the splendor of a zenith moment.

Bajando Gervasio (nominated for a Grammy in 2003) already travels across three continents, Cuban rhythms that reflect a Havana that is now bohemian and late-night, now boisterous and bright, classic and modern, always unrepeatable in the fantasy of its themes. A musical journey toward the peak of the timpani.

Select Discography:
Nueva Visión
Estrellas de Areito
La Fiesta del Timbalero
Bebo Rides Again
Descargando con Peruchin Jr. and the Cuban All Stars
Santiago con The Chieftains
Omara la Novia del Feeling
Havana Night
Introducing Ruben Gonzalez
Deep Rumba 1 y 2
Buena Vista Social Club presents Ibrahim Ferrer
Cuban Dreams A Reunion - The New York Sessions
Vicio Latino II
Distinto, Diferente con Afro Cuban All Stars
Artilleria Pesada con Control Machete
Celina 50 años como una reina
Chanchullo
Buena Vista Social Club presents Omara Portuondo
Motivo Cubano con el grupo Cubismo
Cachaíto
Bajando Gervasio
Buenos Hermanos
Llegó Teté
Two shoes con The Cat Empire
Flor de amor
Salsa, Son, Timba
Buena Vista Social Club presents Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal
Rhythms del Mundo Cuba
Rhythms del Mundo Cubano Alemán
Buena Vista Social Club at Carnegie Hall
Rhythms del Mundo Classics