Bebo Valdés

composer/arranger

Born in Havana in 1918, pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger Bebo Valdés is one of the greatest Cuban musicians of his generation. He began his career as a nightclub pianist in the 1940s, becoming pianist and arranger for Ernesto Lecuona and Rita Montaner, among others. Valdés played a role in the development of mambo as well as the Filin movement of the 1950s, before developing his own rhythm, the batanga. In 1952, music producer Norman Granz recorded with him in Havana the first Cuban Descarga (jam session). Following the Cuban revolution, limited employment opportunities saw him leave his native country in 1960, eventually settling in Sweden. He was re-discovered there decades later, playing piano in a Stockholm restaurant. The 1994 CD Bebo Rides Again revived his career, and Fernando Trueba’s documentary film Calle 54 brought his piano playing to a wider audience. With Fernando Trueba Productions Valdes recorded El Arte Del Sabor (2002), awarded the Latin Grammy for Best Tropical Traditional Album, Lágrimas Negras (2003), awarded two Latin Grammys, We Could Make Such Beautiful Music (2003), Bebo De Cuba (2004), Grammy winner for Best Tropical Traditional Album, Bebo (2005), Live At The Village Vanguard (2007) and Juntos Para Siempre (2008), Grammy winner for Best Latin Jazz Album and the Latin Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album.