Idania Valdés… beyond the Social Club

April 26, 2021

Cuban singer Idania Valdés presented her second record production on April 23rd. A double album (CD-DVD) released under the EGREM label that captures the concert the artist performed on March 8, 2017, at the Yara cinema-theater in Havana. The DVD is among the nominees for Cubadisco 2021 in the live concert category, directed by Eduardo Rodríguez and Idania.

The presentation was dedicated to Cuban women and notably highlighted the merit of an artist of Idania's caliber on stage. We now receive this material, preceded by the impact it already made at the time for those who had the fortune of enjoying it live.

Miguel Barnet has said of Idania: "…A ductile voice of great beauty, which distinguishes her through her reflections, warm nuances and a feeling that emerges in each of her songs like the warbling of an exotic songbird…".

And Pedro de la Hoz has assessed: "The Idania who can and must surpass the heights of fleeting success is the one who shows herself fully identified with the deep-rooted values of Cuban song and at the same time with the renewed continuity of the expressive codes of the great female interpreters who have preceded her…".

Precisely as the title of this production refers to: Idania Valdés… Beyond the Social Club, this album comes to show a different artist from the one we were able to enjoy for more than 15 years during her time with that illustrious Cuban music group that is Buena Vista Social Club.

The artist herself took on the general direction of this material, but was accompanied by a luxury team. Michel Herrera in musical direction, Yusef Díaz in musical production, Eduardo Rodríguez in audiovisual and art direction, to mention just a few.

Musically, Beyond the Social Club is categorized by the singer herself as an eclectic production, capable of showcasing all the styles and genres she prefers to bring to the stage and defend with her voice.

Fifteen singles make up this CD-DVD, in which Idania features luxury guests such as Eliades Ochoa, Amadito Valdés, Barbarito Torres, Haila Mompié, Leo Garrido, Haydee Milanés and Alain Pérez, in a journey through songs by authors from various generations such as César Portillo de la Luz, Marta Valdés, Polito Ibáñez, Jorge Drexler and the duo Alain and Gradelio Pérez, among others.

The CD-DVD Idania Valdés... Beyond the Social Club is available on digital music distribution platforms since Friday, April 23rd and that same day was broadcast by Clave Channel of Cuban Television in the Cubadisco space titled Concert for a Prize.