Mayra Caridad Valdés Rodríguez

Outstanding Cuban singer possessing a singular voice and unique register capable of interpreting jazz—which was her strength—as well as other genres. She remained professionally united with her brother, Chucho Valdés. She is the daughter of the celebrated pianist Bebo Valdés and Pilar Rodríguez, who was also her singing teacher.

Mayra was a more than necessary figure in the Cuban scene and, although she obtained her relevance mostly thanks to jazz, her contributions and the blends are undeniable, not only to that genre, but to Cuban music in its broadest sense. It was precisely to her that her brother, the distinguished pianist Chucho Valdés, dedicated the well-deserved Grammy Award he just obtained.

Mayra was a very intense musical link whose spiritual language was understood by great artists in Cuba and beyond, which allowed her to occupy a place of equals in a sound universe where the female musician on the Island had not yet made jazz conquests, although it is true that there were communicating vessels that would be worth addressing abundantly in the future between predecessor names like La Lupe or Freddy.

She entered music from a young age within a family of great musical talents. In 1975 she graduated in Choral Music from the National School of Art, and in 1980 she won first prize in an amateur soloist competition on the renowned Cuban TV program "Todo el mundo canta". From that moment on, jazz would be a reason for being, an obsession, that she would never abandon. By the way, a complex genre when it comes to vocal interpretation.

She worked with the famous Cuban musicologist Odilio Urfé, since Mayra is a graduate in choral direction and worked with him on research projects and the promotion of Cuba's musical heritage. By the way, when she applied to the "Todo el mundo canta" competition, Urfé himself encouraged her to attend and authorized her to be absent from work so she could be prepared for the competition. Mayra is eternally grateful to him, thanks him for that opportunity. And most importantly: being able to share with the public, with her people, is something very special that fills her with life.

Harry Belafonte discovered her in 1981 and took her to share the stage in the numerous tours the North American singer conducted on the island and abroad; thus she became known internationally in Japan and Europe singing with various groups including Irakere, where she shared the stage with her brother Chucho Valdés.

In the 1990s she became the voice of the Cabaret Tropicana, participating in most of the tours until 1994 when she stayed permanently in Irakere as part of the band.

From this period, bolero albums are known in which she offers her talent as an interpreter that commits her to Feeling as a Genre; performing "Drume Negrita" on Chucho Valdés's album and the quartet at the Village Vanguard, a formation with which she also participated in several tours, is simply electrifying. A popular classic of Cuban songwriting, which people tired of hearing, returned with renewed vigor in Mayra's voice.

So every time Chucho gave a concert he would almost shout asking his sister to jump on stage, corroborating that talent only comparable to the great divas of all time was almost an obsession.

Recordings
She debuted as a soloist on the album "La Diosa del Mar" in 2002, accompanied by Irakere's musicians. This recording highlighted the singer's versatility. The different genres covered in this album demonstrate her clean vocal technique and her capacity for improvisation, even for adding lyrics to a Charlie Parker piece "Billie's Bounce". This first album made her a reference within the island. Nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album and Recording.

Mayra Caridad Valdés's second album was "Obatalá, estoy aquí", a work that stood out for its excellent recording, the indisputable quality of its musicians, and once again for a sublime Mayra Caridad. This album, produced and directed by Chucho, focuses on the search for a wide range of themes and genres taking advantage of his sister's versatility. You can see Mayra again playing with jazz standards like "On Green Dolphin Street", or her brother's "Mambo Influenciado" and "Maculele". Here the singer lets loose her capacity for improvisation traversing vocal registers that emulate the harmony of the instruments as well as the polyrhythm of Cuban percussion.

Once again there will be encounters with unforgettable boleros, the interpretations of "Alma Mía" by Benny Moré, "Ayer" by Ñico Rojas, or "Cómo un Milagro" by Juanito Márquez that demonstrate that the Feeling that characterizes Mayra is an authentic root of her Cubanness. This album is also a kind of springboard for Chucho's solo work "Canto a Dios", where the lyrics and instrumentation are based at times on classical music and the spiritual singing of blacks from New Orleans, attempts that are even further enriched in the theme "Obatalá", which in two versions, one short and another much longer, fuse Cuban percussion instruments and choral lyrical singing with the Afro-Cuban singing of Dreiser Durruty's voice. Of the invited musicians, all stars, mention should be made of Elmer Ferrer and Carlos Emilio Morales on electric guitar, as well as Germán Velazco and Orlando Valle "Maraca" on brass. "Obatalá, estoy aquí" achieved nominations at Cubadisco 2008 in Fusion and Best Vocal Instrumental Artist.

This is a work where the two siblings let loose their indisputable capacities and talents.

Later Mayra Caridad becomes part of Chucho Valdés's new project, "Akokan Iré", and shares the tours and presentations with Chucho Valdés's quartet.

Mayra Caridad Valdés has conquered audiences on several continents through a career intimately linked to jazz. She has achieved fabulous receptions from North American and European audiences deeply knowledgeable about the intricacies of this genre. An additional source of satisfaction for a Cuban musician.

It was a challenge for a Cuban woman to undertake a manifestation of elites and to be praised by critics. Of course, she didn't do it in the American style, because that would be dancing in someone else's house. It's as if they came here to play rumba. She managed to fuse jazz with our musical roots.

Mayra has conquered the world through her talent and her authenticity as a Cuban, not because she is the sister or daughter of… She is a genuine Cuban who loves music.