Piano virtuoso Chucho Valdes is a welcome visitor whenever good fortune brings him to this country. The winner of Grammy Awards, Latin Grammy Awards, multiple doctorates and enough honors to fill this page leads his band, the Afro-Cuban Messengers, on a cross-country tour, arriving at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on Friday. His mission is to perform the remarkable music from his latest recording, “Chucho’s Steps,” in every major American city. Along the way, he will make his first appearance on the Carnegie Hall main stage since 1978. The inspiration for “Chucho’s Steps” was the mathematical scheme developed by John Coltrane for his recording of “Giant Steps,” a system too complicated for most musicians to emulate. Predictably, Chucho triumphed over it, composing his own parallel improvisations and variations. The album is a collection of eight numbers incorporating jazz, bop, swing, world fusion and Afro-Cuban ritual music. Since beginning the project eight years ago and recording the album in 2009, he has continually revised every number.
Speaking from Spain through an interpreter, Valdes explained, “I modified the Afro-Cuban rhythm beat of 6/8 by changing it to 11/8 and 13/8. I mixed it with rhythmic changes from the drums and percussion to give a freshness.”
| Onstage |
| Chucho Valdes |
| Where: George Mason University Center for the Arts |
| When: 8 p.m. Friday, preconcert discussion 7:15 |
| Info: $23 to $46; 888-945-2468; cfa.gmu.edu |
His modifications are reflected in each number. Drawing on African roots for “Yansa,” he incorporates the merging of the Yoruba religion with Catholicism in a vocal number pleading to the Orisha, a spirit or deity prominent in West Central and East Africa. In contrast, “Danzon” begins with a slow bolero reminiscent of Spain and soon accelerates to a cha-cha.
Unlike most natives of Cuba, Valdes has been able to travel the world and perform with top jazz musicians. As a youngster in Havana, he listened to Voice of America broadcasts and yearned to travel. His wish came true early in his career, and in 2006, he had earned such respect for his craft and concern about others that he was named a goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. He credits the ease with which he has moved freely from one country to another to the love of mankind for music and respect for musicians and their ability to communicate with all people.
“My sister Mayra is a vocalist in the band,” he said. “She will accompany us on the entire tour, as will Dreiser Durruthy Bombale, the soloist in ‘Yansa.’ The singer Buika will be my special guest for the Carnegie Hall concert only. When the tour ends in San Francisco, I’ll go home to work on a new project, a CD to be released early in 2013.”
