The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) is presenting Grammy-winning Cuban jazz legends CHUCHO VALDÉS (@chuchovaldesmusic) and PAQUITO D’RIVERA (@paquitodrivera), live in concert for one night only on June 18, 2022. The history of the close friendship and shared musical adventures between Valdés and D’Rivera goes back 60 years – but in recent decades, their paths rarely crossed. Chucho and Paquito are now making up for lost time with a new album, I Missed You Too, and a world tour.
In this reunion concert, Chucho and Paquito are accompanied by an extraordinary ensemble that includes Diego Urcola on trumpet and valve trombone, Armando Gola on contrabass and electric bass, Dafnis Prieto on drums, and Roberto Jr. Vizcaino on percussion. The evening includes old hits, some of them already Latin Jazz standards, classics of the Latin-American repertoire and new compositions.
“I’m very proud of this reunion,” said D’Rivera. “Chucho is part of my life. His father was very close friends with my father. Our friendship is something that goes back a long way. The first song Chucho wrote that became famous was called ‘Indestructible.’ That’s our relationship: indestructible.”
“I’ve missed him,” said Valdés. “Paquito is part of my life. I played with his father, Tito, a great saxophonist, before I played with him. Paquito is family and he’s very important to me musically. There are many great musicians, but Paquito is unique.”