Chuchito Valdés in DeLand: The piano speaks for itself

BEACON PHOTO/JEFF SHEPHERD
Attack — Chuchito Valdés redefines the word "attack" as it applies to piano playing.

BEACON PHOTO/JEFF SHEPHERD
Quiet melody — Chuchito Valdés is as skilled at the quiet tune as he is capable of rousing the audience with a popular mambo.

BEACON PHOTO/JEFF SHEPHERD
Dance steps — Chuchito Valdés rises from the piano to delight the audience with a few dance steps.

BEACON PHOTO/JEFF SHEPHERD
Passion — Chuchito Valdés plays passion into every note.

BEACON PHOTO/JEFF SHEPHERD
A man and his piano — Chuchito Valdés tests the limits of the baby grand at DeLand's Athens Theatre.

BEACON PHOTO/JEFF SHEPHERD
Simplicity — A piano, a five-string bass and a drum kit, and Chuchito Valdés, Jonathan Paul and Emilo Valdés to make them speak.

BEACON PHOTO/JEFF SHEPHERD
Encore — Chuchito Valdés says goodbye to the Athens Theatre audience after an encore to end Friday's show in DeLand.

Cuban pianist wows crowd at Athens

By Jeff Shepherd
BEACON COLUMNIST

posted May 2, 2009 - 10:03:36pm

Chuchito Valdés let his music speak for itself when he and his trio performed Friday evening at DeLand's Athens Theatre.

And speak it did. The internationally renowned Cuban pianist displayed an enthusiasm and a passion reminiscent of Jerry Lee Lewis, frequently coming to his feet and putting his whole physique into keyboard-sweeping glissandos.

Valdés performed with much gusto, but his classical chops were also at work. In his tender rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," the arpeggios were nearly perfect.

Latin and jazz sensibilities were front and center as the trio navigated improvised solos on choruses featuring Chuchito's piano, Jonathan Paul's bass and Emilo Valdés on the drum kit. Emilo is Chuchito's brother.

The son of master Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés, and the grandson of legendary pianist Bebo Valdés, Chuchito Valdés has made his own way, growing beyond the shadows of this lineage of traditional Latino influences. At the Athens Friday, he was as comfortable with ragtime as he was with mambo.

The uncluttered simplicity of the stage — with only a couple of microphones and a monitor speaker intruding on the musicians and their instruments — left room for Chuchito to dance several steps during one piece. The audience loved it.

Chuchito left no doubt that his technical capacity rivals his passion. He amazes the listener with speed and showmanship, but without compromising musicality. He tested the range of the baby grand with speedy yet steady trills on the far righthand side of the keyboard. During one passage, Chuchito sped across the keys with such proficiency he made his piano sound just like a harp.

At the end of the hourlong show (no intermission), the audience wanted more. Chuchito and his trio obliged by playing a crowd-pleasing encore. Many in the auditorium joined in singing along with the band on "Bésame Mucho."

After the show, I was able to speak with Chuchito. We quickly realized the challenge this presented. Chuchito speaks little English, and I speak little Spanish. Fortunately, a person nearby helped interpret.

I asked Chuchito what he thought of the Daytona Beach and DeLand area and its people, and the Daytona Beach international Festival, which brought him to Volusia County.

"Incredible, very happy," Chuchito replied.

Our Guatemalan-born interpreter, who now lives in Ormond Beach, added a comment that echoes the frequency with which Chuchito is compared with his musical elders.

"He's in the category with his father," Gustava Pappa said.

— shepz@mpinet.net

Reader Comments

The comments posted below are posted by readers, not by The Beacon staff. These comments express the views and opinions of the authors, and not the administrators, moderators or webmaster. The comments forum is governed by these rules. Please use the report abuse link if you find offensive comments.

Comment on this article

Commenting is closed for this article.

If you would like to contribute a letter to the editor, please click here.

Did you find this story interesting or informative? Subscribe to The DeLand-Deltona Beacon to read more stories by Jeff Shepherd, along with others from our award-winning writers. Subscribe now!