World-renowned Cuban pianist, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdés visited campus today to talk with the Cuban Jazz Ensemble and Select Singers students and share his story, process, and advice. A six-time Grammy and four-time Latin Grammy winner, Valdés — founder of the band Irakere — is currently the 2019 Jazz Master in Residence at Harvard University.
Select Singers performed two songs — Bring Me Little Water Sylvie by Huddie Ledbetter, arr. Moira Smiley, and Si tu Supieras by Emilio Grenet. Upon hearing the performances, Valdés told the students, “Your Spanish is perfect and you were perfectly in tune!” Then the Cuban Jazz Ensemble played Danzón For My Father by Oscar Hernandez, and Mambo Influenciado, a piece by Valdés himself.
After their performances, students asked the legendary musician questions about his work and his life. He left students with words of encouragement; “[These classes are] the seed and with it you can all be great musicians.”