Cuban native Chucho Valdés, considered one of the world’s finest jazz pianists, will perform along with his current working band, the seven-piece AFRO-CUBAN MESSENGERS, at the Missouri Theater Center for the Arts, presented by “We Always Swing” Jazz Series. On the evening of February 12 at 7p.m., Valdes will make his first appearance in Columbia in almost 11 years as part of a 20-city U.S. tour that began in Carnegie Hall on January 20.
“It’s a tremendous honor and privilege to host someone of Chucho Valdes’ stature,” said Jon Poses, who serves as the “We Always Swing” Jazz Series executive director. “We are very fortunate that we were able to land this presentation as part of our 17th season. There are some artists, given an opportunity, that you really don’t want to pass up,” added Poses, noting that Valdés is one such musician. This is especially rare given the ongoing U.S. embargo against Cuba.
In addition to being a jazz virtuouso, Valdés is also considered a highly accomplished composer and arranger and is a significant figure in the world of Latina and Afro-Cuban jazz. Nate Chenin, writing in The New York Times about the pianist’s Carnegie Hall appearance said, “Mr. Valdés has long been a pianist of imperial command, possessed of a dazzling, deceptively casual virtuosity. He’s also one of the dignitaries and custodians of Cuban music, particularly the jazz-inflected species he has cross-bred himself.”
The Pre-Valentine’s Day show not only serves as the 5th Annual MU A&S Week “Signature Concert,” but also acts to appropriately commemorate Dr. Carlos Perez-Mesa at his annual memorial concert, as this will be the second time Valdés will “host” the show. Native Cuban Perez-Mesa was a long-time Columbia resident, pathologist, arts patron and noted humanist who succumbed to cancer in 2000. The Dr. Carlos Perez-Mesa Memorial Concert was born in 2001, with Valdés performing for the inaugural show.
Valdés was born in Quivican, Cuba on October 9, 1941. The 70-year-old musician is son to Bebo Valdés, who is still an active and talented pianist and who first gave Chucho piano lessons. Valdés is a four-time GRAMMY®-winner and three-time Latin GRAMMY®-winner, most recently in 2011 for Chucho’s Steps.
The Jazz Series offers student and group rates for those people purchasing 20 or more tickets. Tickets are available through the Jazz Series Box Office, 573-449-3001, online at ticketmaster.com or directly at the Jazz Series, located on 218 N. Eighth St., and open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. University of Missouri students are also welcome to charge their tickets to the University Box Office, located on the second floor of the Student Center. There will also be a special “Jazz in the District Discount” that is offered. Patrons just need to mention the “District Discount” to save $5 off of the ticket price.
