Chucho Valdés at Barranquilla Carnival

Barranquilla, Colombia- Cuban pianist, arranger and orchestra director Chucho Valdés, Grammy award winner this year at Latin Jazz category, was given the title of president for life of the festival of orchestras in this city, a distinction that in the opinion of the main organizer of the carnival, Colombian musician Roberto de Castro, honors the city. De Castro said that Barranquilla gets prestige with Valdés’ designation, whom he classifies as one of the most relevant figures on the Caribbean-rooted music cultural values.

Very famous celebrities have performed on the festival such as Rubén Blades, Willy Colón, Celia Cruz, Andy Montánez, Oscar D’León, Chucho Valdés, Tito Puente, Larry Harlow, Eddie Palmieri, Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, Adalberto Alvarez y su Son and many other. The awards of the Festival of Orchestras, the “Congo de oro”, granted by a jury are very sought-after and have been achieved by Chucho Valdés, Rubén Blades, Willy Colón… among others. It is a very prestigious award and there is no salsa orchestra which does not wish to achieve one, said De Castro.

Buy Chucho Valdes’ CDs

New Conceptions, Solo Piano, Briyumba Palo Congo, Fantasia Cubana: Variations on Classical Themes,
Yemayá, Afrocubanismo Live!, Bele Bele en La Habana, Live at the Village Vanguard, Babalu Ayé, and Desafios (with Omara Portuondo, Solo: Live in New York ,Lucumí, Pianissimo, Unforgettable Boleros, Live in Cuba, Cuban Jazz Pianissimo, Indestructible (Irakere), En Vivo (with Irakere and Ivan Lins), Invitacion, and
Canciones Inéditas.