Chuchito Valdés, Jr.

Given birth to and raised in Havana, Cuba, pianist, composer, and arranger Jesus “Chuchito” Valdés, Jr. may be the third-generation manifestation of the Cuban jazz piano dynasty which includes his dad, Chucho Valdés, and grandfather, Bebo Valdés. The oldest of five siblings, Valdés was a kid prodigy, participating in and graduating from La Escuela de Musica Ignacio Cervantes. He previously his initial professional gig at age 16, dealing with Cuban vocalist and trumpeter Bobby Carcasses, and in addition accompanied performers Pello Un Afrokan and Anibel Lopez for a while. In the middle-’80s Valdés was an associate from the Cuban jazz combo Sonido Contemporáneo, and by the past due ’90s he previously used his father’s place within the renowned Irakere music group once the elder Valdés opted to look solo. Ultimately Chuchito followed fit, leading his very own music group and touring behind his fiery make of Afro-Cuban jazz. He released a debut record, Encantado, in 2002 on City Crier Records, pursuing it with La Timba in 2002 and Herencia in 2004, both on J&N Information, and Tips of Latin Jazz in 2007 from Sony BMG International. Valdés is constantly on the tour and record, producing his house in Cancun, Mexico.