Thu 11/13 & Fri 11/14 @ 7:30PM

Clevelanders are very familiar with Cuban pianist Chuchito Valdés, who has played here so often he’s practically a homeboy. (He lives in Mexico.)

But his roots are deep in Cuban music history. His father, pianist/bandleader/composer Chucho Valdés, now 84, is a legendary musician and founder of one of Cuba’s most famous Latin jazz ensembles Ikakere; his grandfather Bebo Valdés (1918-2013) was also a pianist, composer and big band leader, who left his native island with his family in 1960 following the Cuban revolution. It’s almost like his future was foreordained.

Chuchito’s own music draws on jazz, his classical training and an array of Caribbean island rhythms. He’s recorded with Irakere which he led for several years, and like his father and grandfather, has performed all over the world as an ambassador for Cuba’s rich musical legacy which includes such styles as Son, Danzon, Cha Cha, Cuban Timba, Guaguanco and more.

When he comes back to Cleveland to perform for two nights at the Irishtown Bend Taproom on its new Baldwin M Grand Piano, he’ll be accompanied by Cuban musician Rafael Monteagudo on drums and Cleveland jazz bassist Kip Reed.

Get tickets here.