• Submitted by: manso
• Arts and Culture
• 02 / 18 / 2011

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2011.02.17 / radiorebelde.HAVANA, Cuba.- Cuban musician Jesus "Chucho" Valdes received on Wednesday the tribute of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), for his recent Grammy Award in Best Latin Jazz Album.

FAO representative to Havana, Marcio Porto, pointed out that a message sent by that organization emphasizes that it feels proud of having Valdés among its Good Will Ambassadors, the www.cubadebate.cu Web site reported.

During an interview with the French AFP news agency in September, Valdes explained that the name of his new group is a tribute to the Jazz Messengers, led by US drummer Art Blakey, who was his “first influence,” the [email protected] Web site reported.

Cubadebate pointed out that Valdes won on Sunday the Grammy in the category of Best Latin Jazz Album, during the 53rd edition of the annual awards of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States, for his production Chucho’s Steps.

La ventana, the portal of Havana’s Casa de las Americas cultural institution, points out that in this first album with The Afro-Cuban Messengers, Valdes includes, with beautiful style and complexity, the various forms of contemporary jazz,: hard bop, free jazz and modal jazz modal, with an excellent use of percussion.

Notimex reports that the CD pays tribute to great figures of jazz, like Wynton Marsalis and Joe Zawinul, and to the piece Misa Negra.

Standing out among Chucho’s Steps, composed of 12 pieces, is a danzon that opens with a cha cha cha rhythm, in which the musician combines several genres, the Mexican news agency reported.(ACN)