The 32nd Istanbul Jazz Festival kicks off with the legendary figure of Afro-Cuban jazz, the seven-time Grammy winner, Chucho Valdés.

Cuban pianist, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdés is recognised as one of the most influential figures in Afro-Cuban jazz. Renowned for his pioneering work with the legendary band Irakere, which he led as pianist and principal composer, and a solo career spanning over 60 years, Valdés has left an indelible mark on the world of music.

After founding Irakere in 1973, Valdés and his band revolutionised Cuban music by blending African roots with jazz, creating a fresh and daring fusion. They brought Cuban dance music to life with the rhythmic power of African drums and introduced the world to the vibrant sound of Timba Cubana. The group served as a launchpad for legendary musicians like Arturo Sandoval and saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera. In 1979, Irakere’s groundbreaking debut album in the US won a Grammy for Best Latin Recording. Irakere wasn’t just a band – it was an institution, an ‘Irakere University,’ shaping the past, present, and future of Latin jazz across four generations of musicians.

​​In 1998, Valdés shifted his focus to solo projects, blending jazz, classical music, rock, and beyond with the rich Afro-Cuban tradition, earning a string of accolades including 6 Grammy Awards and 3 Latin Grammys. In 2021, he celebrated his 80th birthday by completing his monumental work La Creación (The Creation).

Chucho Valdés, accompanied by the phenomenal Horacio ‘El Negro’ Hernandez on drums, José A. Gola on bass, and Roberto Jr. Vizcaino on percussion, will mark the opening of the 32nd Istanbul Jazz Festival.