Search - Bebo Valdes :: Recuerdos De Habana a Portrait at 80

Even though he has lived in Sweden for four decades, Bebo Valdés's playing is so poignantly Cuban that you can practically smell the cigar tobacco. Some will remember Valdes as a standout on the soundtrack for Calle 54 or from his Blue Note album El Arte del Sabor from 2001. Here, on Recuerdos de Habana, a double-disc set first released as an import in 1999, he plays with the same fire as on the above two albums. The pianist often goes it alone or is joined by his young son Rickard on timbales, while occasionally they are joined by other percussionists or bass. Regardless of the setting, Valdés?s playing sparkles as he rolls from bolero to mambo to guajira with the same ferocious yet romantic piano style that he taught his son Chucho. Along with 28 songs, fans also get a fascinating interview and music lesson in English with the pianist. As good a self-portrait as one could hope for, Recuerdos is required listening for Cuban jazz fans. --Tad Hendrickson