By Danny R. Johnson – Jazz and Pop Music Critic
New York, NY–On October 16 – 17, 2026, Cuban jazz pianist and composer Chucho Valdés celebrated his 85th Birthday with a special performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 1,200-seat Rose Theater in New York City.
Renowned for his virtuosity, inventive compositions, and fusion of Cuban traditions with jazz, Valdés marked the milestone before sold-out audiences. The concerts honored a remarkable career defined by rhythmic sophistication, creative risk-taking, and enduring influence on generations of musicians.
Valdés was joined by an acclaimed ensemble featuring trumpeter Terence Blanchard, tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano, bassist John Patitucci, drummer Marcus Gilmore, and percussionist Roberto Jr. Vizcaíno Torre, with a special appearance by renowned clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer Paquito D’Rivera.
The 6-foot-7 Cuban jazz master took the stage at the October 17 performance with a commanding presence that delighted the audience. His height, long limbs, and remarkably large hands made a striking impression: seated at the piano, one arm could hang nearly to the floor, while at the keyboard his broad reach swept up dense clusters of notes. His expressive, laugh-lined face and warm personality made him even more irresistible to listeners.
Facing the audience, Valdés clasped his hands in gratitude for the standing ovation before sitting down to launch “Congadanza” with a forceful solo. Vizcaíno and Gilmore then traded rhythms on congas and drums, closing with playful mock swordplay using their sticks. Valdés then introduced Chick Corea’s “Armando’s Rhumba,” followed by “My Foolish Heart.” The first moved from an energetic piano passage to a bass solo and Vizcaíno’s fiery conga work. Gilmore opened the latter with brushes, providing delicate percussion while Vizcaíno added subtle accents on ganza-style shakers.
Born Dionisio Jesús Valdés Rodríguez into a musical family in Quivicán, Cuba, in October 1941, Chucho Valdés began studying piano with his father, pianist, composer, and bandleader Ramón “Bebo” Valdés, at age three. He graduated from Havana’s Municipal Conservatory of Music at 14, formed his first jazz trio at 18, and began a long recording career with Jazz Nocturno (Areito, 1964). After first gaining international recognition alongside Bebo Valdés, he built a distinguished solo career marked by Grammy-winning performances and recordings. His latest album, Cuba and Beyond (InnerJazz Music, 2024), features three fellow Havana-born musicians: bassist José Armando Gola, two-time Latin Grammy-winning percussionist Roberto Jr. Vizcaíno, and renowned drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernández.
Blanchard, Lovano, and D’Rivera delivered riveting solos and trio exchanges, propelled by Valdés’ high-energy leadership. Even at moderate tempos, Valdés’ attack remained fierce: within seconds of one piece, as the rhythm section pulsed softly beneath him, he drove massive triplet chords toward a thunderous tremolo. Like Cecil Taylor, Valdés is fascinated by sound; unlike Taylor, he draws his power from established forms shared by Cuban and jazz traditions.
