Lázaro Valdés Dies, a Reference Point for Cuban Piano Music

January 2, 2023

The distinguished Cuban artist Lázaro Valdés Espinosa passed away today in Havana at the age of 83, reported the Cuban Institute of Music (ICM).

A musician, researcher and director of the Son Jazz orchestra, he studied at the Marianao conservatory in this capital, and was the last pianist of Benny Moré's Gigante Band, a band he directed for several years after the death of the Bárbaro del Ritmo.

Recognized for his performances in genres such as Son and Jazz, his legacy constitutes a reference point for Cuban piano music, the ICM indicated in its message on the social network Facebook.

For his extensive work as a musician, he was awarded various recognitions, including the Raúl Gómez García Medal, from the Union of Culture Workers and the Distinction for National Culture, which is granted by the Ministry of Culture.