Cuban pianist will be jazz festival’s artist-in-residence
The Detroit Jazz Festival announced this week that influential Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés, who won his seventh Grammy on Sunday night, will feature as artist-in-residence for the 2022 festival.
The annual Labor Day weekend event will return to live performance in downtown Detroit, Sept. 2-5.
He will also perform during a preview event April 30 at Wayne State University at the future home of the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center.
Valdés is best known as founder, pianist and main composer and arranger of long-running Afro-Cuban band Irakere, a proving ground for generations of Latin jazz s such as Arturo Sandoval and Paquito d’Rivera in the same way Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers trained and introduced new stars in hard bop and contemporary American jazz.
Since leaving the band in 2005, Valdés has continued his solo career. His most recent solo release, 2018’s “Jazz Bata 2,” drew critical acclaim. His 2022 Grammy win was in the Best Latin Jazz Album category for Brazilian musician Eliane Elias’ “Mirror Mirror,” an album on which Valdés guested along with pianist Chick Corea, who died last year. At age 80, he shows no signs of slowing: His next album, recorded with d’Rivera, will be released in July.
Valdés revealed to the Free Press that singer Dianne Reeves and saxophonist Joe Lovano will also be on this year’s festival roster and will perform with him during the weekend. He will play duo performances with each and perform together with both of them. Valdés will also debut “La Creación,” a three-movement piece he’s been working on.
“It is the story of Africans in the Caribbean, but also of Africans on the continents of the Americas,” he said via Spanish language interpreter, “and is a form of educating the people — of sharing the knowledge of where we come from.”
“I’ll also be doing a solo piano set,” he added, “and my best quartet will present innovations related to Cuban jazz.”
Valdés’ residency will see him returning to metro Detroit throughout the year to lead educational initiatives for students as well as community engagement activities.
“Chucho Valdés’ selection as the 2022 artist-in-residence is an immediate reflection of our ongoing international outreach initiatives, profoundly grown global audience during the pandemic, and our ongoing commitment to present jazz artists and performances that showcase the diverse tapestry of jazz, including legendary artists and the next generation of jazz leaders,” said Chris Collins, president and artistic director of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation. “His artistry at the festival, coupled with his monumental career and status as a worldwide leader in Afro-Cuban jazz will make the perfect statement as we transition back into an in-person format with a new perspective.”