HAVANA JAZZ – CUBAN JAZZ PREMIERE
SUNDAY, JANUARY 21 AT 14:00 CET
Sunday, January 21 marks the start of the Havana Jazz Festival in Cuba. To pay special attention to this amazing event and Cuban jazz culture in general, Stingray DJAZZ premieres a unique performance by Chucho Valdés, the godfather of Cuban jazz. Forty-seven years after his first, self-titled release from 1970, Valdés brought the influence of the famous batá drum – a sacred Yoruba instrument – into modern times with his quintet project ‘Jazz Batá 2’. Valdés’ recent performance at Jazz à Vienne 2019 celebrates both Chucho’s father Ramón’s centenary (1918-2013) and Chucho's own 77th birthday (both were born on October 9). The Cuban maestro, who received a Grammy Award for his involvement in the late trumpeter – and Jazz à Vienne regular – Roy Hargrove's 1998 American-Cuban project ‘Habana’ is joined by special guest Louisiana-born trumpeter Terence Blanchard for a moving tribute to Hargrove’s flair and talent.
Chucho Valdés 5tet, Jazz Batá ft. Terence Blanchard
SUNDAY, JANUARY 21 AT 14:00 CET
With his spade-like hands capable of being as delicate as a lace maker, the godfather of Cuban jazz Chucho Valdés (six Grammies and three Latin Grammy Awards) is back with Jazz Batá 2 (2018). 47 years after his first eponymous volume, the giant has brought the influence of the famous batá drum into modern times (sacred Yoruba religious instrument in Cuba). So he's revived the concept of his 1972 Jazz Batá album. At the time, this simple trio project with no drums was experimental. The pianist may have dropped the small band after the roaring success of Irakere (from 1973) but he's always wanted to go back to it. So he has, "with a wider panorama and quintet", says Jésus "Chucho" Valdès. His father Bebo Valdès, the inventor of batanga beats in 1952, taught him music. The album and tour coming our way also mark the centenary of Ramón "Bebo" Valdés (1918-2013) and Chucho's 77th birthday (they were both born on October 9th). The trumpet player Roy Hargrove was a regular at Jazz à Vienne and passed away in November 2018. His unforgettable performance with his quintet at the Roman Theatre on July 12th will remain an incredible memory of the bond between the trumpet player and Vienne audience. The Cuban maestro Chucho Valdès remembers getting a Grammy for his involvement in Roy Hargrove's American-Cuban project Crisol 20 years ago (1998). The Louisiana trumpet player Terence Blanchard is the quintet's special guest and will replicate Roy's flair and talent in this moving tribute.
