Chucho Valdés Honored as Jazz Master 2025 in the U.S.

July 23, 2024

The legendary Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés was honored as one of the 2025 Jazz Masters, the most important recognition a jazz musician can aspire to in the United States.

The National Endowment for the Arts of the U.S. (NEA) and the Kennedy Center also granted the distinction to saxophonist Marshall Allen, pianist Marilyn Crispell, and critic Gary Giddins, all American.

The 2025 Jazz Masters will be presented on April 26 during the annual NEA Jazz Masters tribute concert at the Kennedy Center.

"I want to thank the Kennedy Center because I have received the NEA Jazz Master. It is the highest recognition that the American nation gives to a musician. I also want to congratulate the other artists who have received it. I am super happy, super grateful, and more music," said the Cuban, in a video shared on his Instagram.

The Jazz Master had previously been awarded to Cuban musicians Paquito D'Rivera in 2005 and Cándido Camero in 2008.

In February of this year, D'Rivera and Valdés, along with Arturo Sandoval, starred in a tribute concert in Miami marking 40 years since the founding of the legendary group Irakere.

Chucho Valdés was born in Quivicán, now in Mayabeque province. Starting at just three years old, he began his musical training, influenced by his father, Afro-Cuban jazz pianist Bebo Valdés (1918-2013), who was born coincidentally on October 9. By age 15, he had already formed his first jazz trio with Emilio del Monte and Luis Rodríguez.

In December 1958, he worked as a pianist at the Deauville and St. John hotels in Havana. Between 1961 and 1963, he worked as a pianist at the Martí Theater, the International Lounge of the Hotel Habana Riviera, and in the orchestra of the Havana Musical Theater.

One of the great moments of his career came in 1973 when he founded the group Irakere. The Cuban jazz orchestra brought together a group of renowned musicians who made major contributions to Latin jazz.

In addition to being a pianist, Chucho Valdés has been a music teacher, composer, and arranger.

He was declared Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO) in 2006.

He has performed on important stages around the world and experts consider him one of the best pianists internationally.

Among his numerous accolades are several Grammy Awards and Latin Grammys.

Since 2010, Valdés has lived between Málaga and Miami; and on several occasions he has expressed his opposition to the situation on the Island, referring to repression and economic hardship.