Accessibility links
Chucho Valdes Chucho Valdes artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

Chucho Valdes

Celebrate New Year's with Toast of the Nation

Ranky Tanky with Lisa Fischer Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Toast Of The Nation

Celebrate New Year's with Toast of the Nation

Ring in the new year with music from Chucho Valdés, José James, Ibrahim Maalouf and Ranky Tanky with Ms. Lisa Fischer.

Celebrate New Year's with Toast of the Nation

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1143391829/1145648277" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Listener Picks: Songs Of Hope And Calm

Vocalist Jorge Drexler is one of the artists that Alt.Latino listeners turn to for comfort. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Alt.Latino

Listener Picks: Songs Of Hope And Calm

If there was ever a need for the healing power of music, now is that time. We put out a call for the songs helping you cope and, on this episode, we play your picks.

Listener Picks: Songs Of Hope And Calm

Listen · 56:31
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/830918970/1199272230" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Radical Grooves And Hometown Heroes: Cuba's Lasting Jazz Legacy

Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés performs at the Havana Jazz Festival in December 2016. Valdés is one of the artistic directors of this year's International Jazz Day festivities. Erika Goldring/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Erika Goldring/Getty Images

Music Interviews

Radical Grooves And Hometown Heroes: Cuba's Lasting Jazz Legacy

As Havana prepares to host this year's International Jazz Day celebration, Jazz Night In America's Christian McBride shares how the island nation has shaped jazz in America and around the world.

Radical Grooves And Hometown Heroes: Cuba's Lasting Jazz Legacy

Listen · 8:00
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/526017295/526085139" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Chucho Valdés On Piano Jazz

Chucho Valdés. Elmer Martinez/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Elmer Martinez/AFP/Getty Images

Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

Chucho Valdés On Piano Jazz

In a 2000 session, hear the innovator in Latin jazz duet with Marian McPartland and play his original compositions "Claudia" and "Mambo Influenciado."

Chucho Valdés On Piano Jazz

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/496891193/497008290" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Cuban Piano 101: A Century Of Historic Grooves

Harold López-Nussa is part of a rich legacy of Cuban pianists. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Alt.Latino

Cuban Piano 101: A Century Of Historic Grooves

The piano is as much a defining sound of Cuban music as percussion. This week on Alt.Latino, we cover the way the country interprets Africa through the keyboard.

Cuban Piano 101: A Century Of Historic Grooves

Listen · 28:59
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/496753719/496799879" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
First Listen: Chucho Valdés And The Afro-Cuban Messengers, 'Border-Free'

Chucho Valdés and the Afro-Cuban Messengers' new album, Border-Free, comes out July 9. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Chucho Valdés And The Afro-Cuban Messengers, 'Border-Free'

Every release by the great pianist Chucho Valdés digs deeper into the common roots of jazz and Cuban music. A tight collection of songs that span the entire Cuban musical landscape and beyond, Border-Free explores unexpected musical connections.

Chucho Valdés And The Afro-Cuban Messengers, 'Border-Free'

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/195927494/195864122" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Caribbean Jazz: A Summer Cruise For Your Mind

A native of the Dominican Republic, Michel Camilo is one of the most energetic pianists in jazz. Alessandra Raimondi/via Flickr hide caption

toggle caption
Alessandra Raimondi/via Flickr

A Blog Supreme

Caribbean Jazz: A Summer Cruise For Your Mind

Jazz24

Wouldn't it be nice to just drop whatever you're doing right now and go on a nice, leisurely Caribbean vacation? Well, you can — sort of. Let your mind sail through the Caribbean by listening to some music from a few of the many fine jazz artists who were born on the Caribbean islands.

Latin Romance Through The Years On Piano Jazz

Tania Maria sings Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Wave" on this Latin episode of Piano Jazz. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Latin Romance Through The Years On Piano Jazz

Over the years, Marian McPartland has invited some of the greatest Latin musicians to share their tender and torrid musical expressions. Here, Tania Maria, Paquito D'Rivera, Danilo Perez and Chucho Valdes share some Latin love with the "Queen of Jazz Piano."

Latin Romance Through The Years On Piano Jazz

Listen · 57:53
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/133681415/133677769" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Chucho Valdes And Richard Galliano On JazzSet

Chucho Valdes. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Concerts

Chucho Valdes And Richard Galliano On JazzSet

WBGO

After half an hour with the stunning accordion of Richard Galliano and his quartet of name players, we check out piano wonder-of-the-world Chucho Valdes from Havana. Hear the North Sea Jazz Festival concerts, recorded by Radio Netherlands.

Chucho Valdes And Richard Galliano On JazzSet

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/130541885/137646018" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Basic Jazz Record Library

Chucho Valdes: 'Briyumba Palo Congo'

Delayed for a U.S. release because of its Cuban connections, Briyumba Palo Congo transforms the sounds of Havana into classic jazz. Recorded by Chucho Valdes, the album frequently pays homage to Gershwin and Ellington. Don't miss the swinging Latin version of "Rhapsody in Blue."

Chucho Valdes: 'Briyumba Palo Congo'

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4176880/150877110" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org