Zellerbach Auditorium
Berkeley, CA
April 4, 2001

Zellerbach Auditorium at UC Berkeley has a large stage. It takes someone special to fill that vast space. This was no problem for the Cuban jazz master, Chucho Valdes, and his quartet. His mere entrance on to the stage, where one can see his great height before he sits at the piano, is just a hint of his largess and the music to come.

The quartet's repertoire consisted of American jazz standards and Cuban tunes Chucho is known for playing during his illustrious career. A recent Grammy for 'Live at the Village Vanguard', Chucho at sixty years shows no hint of slowing down. With each performance he seems to transcend to an even higher level with his music and carry the audience with him. We are never let down.

The quartet's opening piece featured Yaroldy Abreu, a fierce, young conga player, singing a Yorunba chant to the deity Yemaya. Lazaro 'Fino' Rivera, on stand-up base and Ramses Rodrigues on traps, joined in. Chucho touched the keyboard and the quartet took off into a Cuban tune, filled with solos on conga, bass and traps. The mood shifted as Chucho played solo piano.

A favorite part of the performance in recent years has been the call and response between Chucho's playing and the conga player. He'll play a riff and the conga player, in this case Yaroldy, plays the same line on conga. Always a delight to watch as one waits to see if the conga will come through. No disappointment here–Yaroldy is a brilliant conga player, who has recently toured with Orlando 'Maraca' Valle, and Irakere. He has been approached where he studies, at the National School of the Arts in Havana, to join the percussion faculty when he completes his schooling. Yaroldy is yet another strong player that is coming into his own under the watchful eye of maestro Chucho Valdes.

A fan of the late Duke Ellington, Chucho paid homage to the jazz Master with a medley, comprised of Satin Doll, In a Sentimental Mood and Caravan. Waves of his lyrical keyboard playing, whether montunos or jazz riffs had the audience watching and listening to every movement, responding with great enthusiasm once each musical wave subsided.

To the audience's delight, the quartet returned to the stage for not one, two, but three encores. When the music is this good and the Maestro only comes through once or twice a year, all 'extras' are and were greatly appreciated. No one wanted this stellar performance to end. Kudos to Cal Performances for including Chucho Valdes in their programming and great hopes they will bring him back again.

©2001 by salsasf.com
Photo courtesy of Cal Performances.