Zoom in

Chucho Valdés

Zoom in

MAESTRO CHUCHO VALDES WILL BE PLAYING THE LEADING ROLE IN THE GALA EVENING OF THE HABANO FESTIVAL’S 18TH EDITION

Chucho Valdes is internationally renowned as one of the most outstanding pianists and one of the finest jazzmen, but he also stands out for his interest in the cigar culture and the enjoyment of a fine habano. That’s why he has provided the music for several Habano Festival galas, which will happen again in this upcoming edition along with the diva of the Buena Vista Social Club, Omara Portuondo.
Numerous national and foreign musicians have found inspiration and creative spirit in the sensations delivered by the wafting aroma, taste and texture of a premium cigar. Chucho Valdes has established several and continuous bonds with the Habano Festivals. He has repeatedly performed as guest artist in the event –founded back in 1999- and its galas. A special moment came to pass during his performance in the 12th edition, side by side with Brazilian songwriter Ivan Lins and Portuguese singer Mariza. Coincidentally, he was given a deluxe humidor with a commemorative vitola for his 70th birthday.
Chucho Valdes, winner of eight Grammy Awards, is not a regular smoker, but he has admitted that he sometimes smokes a habano when writing a song, since he believes that the cigar “can provide extremely good vibes and energies.” And this isn’t an odd statement as many artists related to different expressions usually enjoy the finest cigars on the face of the earth during their creative moments, and it’s also a strong motivation for the Cuban people because of its meaningfulness in terms of identity. We cannot forget that the habano has been an indispensable underpinning of both our culture and economy. As for Chucho, the bonds are even stronger. His grandfather was a cigar factory reader, a legendary trade in our national culture that was recently given the status of immaterial heritage of the nation. His father, great Cuban pianist and songwriter Bebo Valdes, was a regular cigar smoker.
On the heels of a year 2015 with plenty of important moments in Chucho Valdes’ career, we cannot forget the concert he performed at Havana’s Cathedral Square along with Chinese pianist Lang Lang, directed by America’s Marin Alsop; as well as the one held at the National Theater of Cuba to celebrate the 70th anniversary of FAO, an international organization that has appointed Chucho Valdes as an a Goodwill Ambassador. The maestro can awe us all in this gala of the Habano Festival’s 18th edition, since in the concert dedicated to FAO he introduced a brass section to the initial layout of his band: Afro Cuban Messengers.  
Watching Chucho Valdes is undoubtedly going to be a big surprise in this edition of the Habano Festival, slated for February 29-March 4, 2016. Perhaps his signature virtuosity and the poetry of his performances will make him play some of legendary Ernesto Lecuona’s works as the 120th anniversary of his birth was celebrated in 2015. Chucho was one of the three pianists chosen to perform in the audiovisual material entitled Playing Lecuona, directed by Spain’s Juanma Villar and Cuban Pavel Giroud, and successfully screened in the Festival held in Montreal, Canada, although its official premiere is scheduled for 2016.
Once again, Chucho Valdes will be delighting attendees of a Festival that, beyond fostering the very best of our cigar industry and culture, stands for one of Mr. Valdes’ maxims: “my greatest pride is being Cuban and proclaiming it, because the Cuban identity vibrates in my music.”