Chucho Valdés dedicates his new album to the centenary of his father, Bebo Valdés

August 11, 2018

Cuban pianist and composer Chucho Valdés announced this Wednesday in Havana that his next album Jazz Batá II will be released next October and will be dedicated to the centennial of the birth of his father, renowned musician Bebo Valdés (1918-2013).

Chucho Valdés, in statements to island media, recalled that his father was the first to insert batá drums into a Big Band orchestra, thereby creating the so-called "batanga" rhythm.

Batá drums are a family of three percussion instruments that are crafted by hand, which Cuba has inherited from African religious traditions.

The new album includes a song that Bebo Valdés played when he was a child, and that his son performed many years later and called 100 years of Bebo, explained the Latin jazz pianist.

Both artists will perform a single concert at the Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso on Saturday, August 11 to perform the songs from the album

Valdés is currently on the Island to present in concert the album of boleros and ballads Once. Concierto para dos, which he recorded in 2017 with Argentine singer Patricia Sosa, who will perform before the Cuban public for the first time.

"It will be a special concert in which I will give my all to do justice to the titles of the album, among them several classics from the Cuban songbook such as Allí and Envidia," said the Argentine singer.

Both artists will perform a single concert at the Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso on Saturday, August 11 to perform the songs from the album, among which is one in which legendary Cuban singer Omara Portuondo will participate, known internationally as the diva of the Buena Vista Social Club project.

Valdés, 76 years old and with eight awards between Grammy and Latin Grammy, also announced his next project Chucho en buena compañía with which he plans to hold a series of concerts starting in 2019 in the month of August with guest musicians such as Americans Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, and Chick Corea.

Due to his opposition to the Government, Bebo Valdés lived in exile from 1960, when he left Cuba and abandoned his family on the Island. Since then he resided in Mexico, the United States, Sweden and Spain. Despite having a distinguished international career, Bebo was placed on the blacklist of the authorities along with Celia Cruz and Olga Guillot among others, and his songs were taboo on the Island for decades. He was only heard again on the Island's radios after recording the album Lágrimas negras with El Cigala.

Source: 14ymedio.com