Chucho Valdes: Jazz Nocturno (LP)

The music here marks a fundamental chapter in the evolution of Jesús “Chucho” Valdés’ career and development into one of the finest jazz pianists in the world. The concepts that he brought to fruition in the Quinteto Cubano de Jazz, the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna, and Irakere, have their roots in the band Chucho formed at the beginning of the 1960’s, which due to limited distribution has received little attention from specialists and jazz lovers alike. Chucho’s album Jazz Nocturno was recorded in the early 1960’s. During the years in which he worked for the Havana Musical Theater Orchestra, he formed his own combo with friend Carlos Emilio Morales on guitar, Paquito D’Rivera on sax and clarinet, Enrique “Kike” Hernández on bass, Emilio del Monte on timbales, Julio Vento on flute, Alberto Valdés on trombone, and Oscar Valdés on congas. It is worth noting Chucho’s exclusion of the traditional drum set, considering his intention to play jazz. THE COMPLETE LP + 3 BONUS TRACKS -180-GRAM VIRGIN VINYL - LIMITED EDITION OF 500 COPIES