Pianist

Chucho Valdés, in more than six decades in the public eye, has never rested on his laurels. Leading big bands and small ensembles, he’s defined and redefined Afro-Cuban jazz for generations of listeners. A 2025 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, Valdés blends jazz, blues, funk, Latin, classical, and African influences into a captivating musical experience.

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Chucho Valdés and His Royal Quartet

Berklee College of Music

The most influential figure in modern Afro-Cuban jazz for more than half a century, virtuoso pianist, composer and arranger Chucho Valdés celebrates 60 years of musical alchemy with the SFJAZZ premiere of his Royal Quartet project.

Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet

SFJAZZ Center

Born in Havana, pianist, composer and arranger Chuchito Valdés (Jesús Valdés Jr.) comes from one of the most distinguished musical families of Cuba. The son of legendary Cuban pianist Jesús “Chucho” Valdés, Chuchito also learned from listening to the recordings of his grandfather, Bebo Valdés, one of Cuba’s greatest composers.

Chuchito Valdes Trio 2025

Dearborn Station

Cuban pianist, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdés is the most influential figure in modern Afro-Cuban jazz. In a career spanning more than 60 years, both as a solo artist and bandleader, Mr. Valdés has distilled elements of the Afro-Cuban music tradition, jazz, classical music, rock, and more, into a deeply personal style.

Chucho Valdés & Paquito D’Rivera Reunion Sextet

Cadillac Square

Cuban pianist, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdés is the most influential figure in modern Afro-Cuban jazz today. Over a career spanning more than 60 years, Valdés has distilled elements of Afro-Cuban musical tradition, jazz, classical, and rock into a deeply personal style. In this special event at Severance Music Center, Valdés and his Royal Quartet bring their electrifying artistry to the stage in a performance that speaks to the power of music as a force for connection and healing.

Severance Music Center

Two of most influential figures in Afro-Cuban jazz, virtuoso pianist Chucho Valdés and trumpet icon Arturo Sandoval, reunite as part of Irakere 50, the latest iteration of the legendary band that changed the course of Latin music in the 1970s and 80s and launched both of their stellar careers.

Chucho Valdés, Irakere 50, featuring Arturo Sandoval

Paramount Theatre Oakland

The 1973 band changed Latin music forever. Irakere lives again with two of its original band members, legends without equal – Chucho Valdés and Arturo Sandoval. Few American venues today can compare to The Soraya’s history celebrating the musical greatness of Cuba.

Chucho Valdés: Irakere 50

Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts

Roberto Fonseca is one of the best representatives of the glorious Cuban piano school. His most recent project, “La Gran Diversión” is also a musically seething show that recalls the glories of the great dancehalls of the roaring years of Cuban music.

Roberto Fonseca "la Gran Diversión" / Chucho Valdés: Irakere 50

Arena Santa Giuliana

Experience the unparalleled power of preeminent vocalist and NEA Jazz Master Dianne Reeves, Afro-Cuban jazz icon Chucho Valdés and the “restlessly creative” (Jazz at Lincoln Center) saxophonist Joe Lovano as they join forces for an unforgettable evening of duets at Symphony Center.

Duets: Dianne Reeves, Chucho Valdés & Joe Lovano

Symphony Center

Three all-time greats come together for a rare evening of intimate duets. Winner of seven Grammy and four Latin Grammy Awards, the Cuban pianist, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdés is the most influential figure in modern Afro-Cuban jazz and a perennial Celebrity Series audience favorite.

Duets – Dianne Reeves, Chucho Valdés, and Joe Lovano

Three all-time greats come together for a rare evening of intimate duets. Winner of seven Grammy and four Latin Grammy Awards, the Cuban pianist, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdés(Opens in a new window) is the most influential figure in modern Afro-Cuban jazz and a perennial Celebrity Series audience favorite.

Duets: Dianne Reeves, Chucho Valdés, and Joe Lovano

Winner of seven Grammy Awards and five Latin Grammy Awards, Cuban pianist, composer and arranger Chucho Valdés is the most influential figure in modern Afro-Cuban jazz. In a rich career spanning 60 years, through a variety of ensembles, Chucho has pushed boundaries in pursuit of new expressions in Afro-Cuban music.

Lucas Theatre For the Arts

The most influential figure in modern Afro-Cuban jazz for more than half a century, virtuoso pianist, composer and arranger Chucho Valdés returns with Irakere 50, the new iteration of the legendary band that changed the course of Latin music in the 1970s and 80s.

Chucho Valdés & Irakere 50

Fresh off the world premiere of his epic work La Creación at the Arsht Center in 2021, Cuban pianist and composer CHUCHO VALDÉS returns to commemorate 50 years of IRAKERE, the legendary Afro-Cuban jazz band he founded that changed the face of Latin music forever.

Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

In a career spanning more than 60 years, both as a solo artist and bandleader, the great Cuban pianist and composer Chucho Valdés has distilled elements of the Afro-Cuban music tradition, jazz, classical music, rock, and more, into a deeply personal style. Winner of seven GRAMMY® and four Latin GRAMMY® Awards, Valdés received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Science last year and was also inducted in the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Chucho Valdés Quartet

Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center

Chucho Valdés’ The Creation takes audiences through the Regla de Ocha story of creation, from the Afro-Cuban religious practice of Santería. This evening-length suite engages with powerful cultural rituals and explores how Valdés has woven his heritage throughout his extraordinary musical career.

Chucho Valdés: The Creation

Chucho Valdés’ The Creation takes audiences through the Regla de Ocha story of creation from the Afro-Cuban religious practice Santería. This evening-length suite engages with powerful cultural rituals and explores how Valdés has woven his heritage throughout his extraordinary career.

Pianist

Chucho Valdés

Events

Upcoming events

18 - 21 Jun, 2026

Chuchito Valdes Trio · Jazz Showcase

Past events

May 2, 2026

Chucho Valdés and His Royal Quartet · Celebrity Series of Boston

Feb 26 - Mar 1, 2026

Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet · San Francisco Jazz

About

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