Chucho Valdés & The Afro-Cuban Messengers
"Afro-Comanche" taken from "BORDER-FREE" : http://bit.ly/CValdes-BorderFree
Live at Soka University - Soka Performing Arts Center
Aliso Viejo - California, november 2012
New album BORDER-FREE available in may 2013 on JazzVillage
www.jazzvillagemusic.com
www.chucho-valdes.com
Chucho Valdés (Piano)
Rodney Barreto (Drums)
Gastón Joya (Bass)
Yaroldy Abreu (Percussion)
Dreiser Durruthy (Batás and vocal)
Following the success of Chucho's Steps and a series of world tours, Cuba's foremost pianist has developed a brand new repertoire, the culmination of his ceaseless explorations within the world of Afro-Cuban music, which he cherishes so much.
Boasting a new line-up for his band, The Afro-Cuban Messengers, and a guest appearance from legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis on three tracks, his new album takes us through an eclectic range of pieces, which are technically complex yet instantly captivating. His dazzling virtuosity as a pianist, his prodigious talents as a composer and his ingenious arrangements unite to create a music that enthralls. Alongside new sources of inspiration (the music of the North American Indians and of the Arab-Andalusian culture), the album is infused with the verve of Valdés' early trailblazing Cuban Jazz ensemble Irakere, his nostalgia for Cuban big bands, the punch of Hard Bop, the magical rhythms of the Yoruba drums, and of course the spiritual lyricism which is the mark of all great jazz
Après le succès de Chucho's Steps et une série de tournées autour du monde, le chef de file des pianistes cubains a mis sur pied un répertoire tout neuf, fruit de ses explorations sans cesse renouvelées autour de l'univers afro-cubain qu'il affectionne.
Avec une mouture new look de ses Afro-Cuban Messengers et Branford Marsalis en invité de marque sur trois titres, Chucho Valdés nous emmène au fil de morceaux multicolores, complexes dans leur forme mais immédiatement accrocheurs. Sa maîtrise pianistique, ses talents d'écriture et son ingéniosité d'arrangeur se combinent pour forger une musique passionnante. À côté de nouvelles pistes d'inspiration (la musique des Indiens d'Amérique du Nord et la culture arabo-andalouse), on y entend en filigrane la fougue d'Irakere, la nostalgie des big bands cubains, la vigueur du hard bop, la magie des rythmes Yoruba, sans oublier ce lyrisme empreint de spiritualité qui est la marque du grand jazz.