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#Jazz legends @Chuchovaldes & @joelovano form world-class quintet in first-time musical collaboration at the @KimmelCenter 11/4
Press Contact:
Amanda Conte
215-790-5847
aconte@kimmelcenter.org
GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING JAZZ MUSICIANS CHUCHO VALDES AND JOE LOVANO FORM QUINTET FOR FIRST-EVER COLLABORATION, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, September 21, 2016) –– Two artists who have reached unsurpassed standards at the esteemed Blue Note Records label, pianist Chucho Valdes and saxophonist Joe Lovano, will come together for a first-time collaboration at the Merriam Theater, on November 4 at 8:00 p.m. Both fearless innovators at the forefront of artistic expression, this musical collaboration expands their shared quest for the leading edge in jazz. This will be the first-ever presentation of this unique, world-class ensemble as the men are joined by a bassist, drummer, and percussionist. This show is part of the Kimmel Center’s Jazz series and Philly ¡En Vivo! series.
“What a tremendous honor to present this unprecedented ensemble comprised of some of the most influential jazz artists of our time,” said Anne Ewers, President and CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “A performance rooted in both our jazz series and Philly ¡En Vivo! Series, which honors the diversity of Latino culture, this will be an incredible cultural experience.”
Chucho Valdes first appeared on Blue Note Records label in 1985 and has been a key figure in the evolution of Afro-Cuban jazz for the past 50 years. A talented Cuban pianist, composer, and arranger, he has won five Grammy® Awards and three Latin Grammy® Awards. Beginning his career in 1967, Valdes was a founding member of Orquesta Cubana de Musica Modern, an all-star Cuban band. In 1973, he founded the group Irakere, one of Cuba’s best known Latin Jazz Bands who play an explosive mix of jazz, rock, classical music, and traditional Cuban sounds. Throughout the years, Irakere rose to international stardom, and despite many changes in their band’s line-up, Chucho remained the one great constant until 2005. Throughout his career, Valdes has released multiple albums including Solo Piano (Blue Note, 1991), Solo: Live in New York (Blue Note, 2001), and New Conceptions (Blue Note, 2003), as well as quartet recordings such as Bele Bele en La Habana (Blue Note, 1998), Briyumba Palo Congo (Blue Note, 1999) and Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note, 2000).
Grammy® Award winner Joe Lovano was born into a musical household, learning the saxophone at the young age of five. By the age of 16, he was a member of the Musician’s Union and began playing club gigs in Motown cover bands, earning enough money to put himself through Berkley. Post-Berkeley, Lovano joined organist Dr. Lonnie Smith for a series of gigs in Detroit. As he began to gain recognition, he played his first Carnegie Hall gig in 1974, inspiring his move to Manhattan. Following his move to New York, he joined Woody Herman’s 40th anniversary tour in 1976. Lovano’s three year gig with Woody included many firsts including a European tour and playing international festivals as a soloist. Over the next 40 years, he continued to gain international and national attention, touring with major jazz musicians including Gunther Schuller, Herbie Hancock, Bob Brookmeyer, among many others. In 1991, Lovano signed with Blue Note Records, and since then, has lead his own groups – producing nearly twenty five recordings as a leader - becoming one of the great jazz artists of our times.
Other upcoming concerts on the Kimmel Center Campus include;Jazz 100 Featuring Lizz Wright
(September 30, 2016, Merriam Theater), Mexrrissey (October 29, 2016, Merriam Theater), Norah Jones (December 2, 2016, Academy of Music), Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia: Trane-ing Day (December 3, 2016, Perelman Theater), Kat Edmonson (February 12, 2016, Perelman Theater), and Balé Folclórico da Bahía (February 17, 2017, Merriam Theater).
CHUCHO VALDES AND JOE LOVANO QUINTET
Merriam Theater
November 4, 2016, 8:00 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets are available now and start at $30.50. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (215) 790-5883. More information at kimmelcenter.org.
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, The Kimmel Center’s mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience through diverse programming, arts education, and community outreach. The Kimmel Center campus is comprised of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, SEI Innovation Studio, and the Merck Arts Education Center), the Academy of Music (owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association), and the University of the Arts’ Merriam Theater. The Kimmel Center is also home to eight Resident Companies: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Philly Pops, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Curtis Institute of Music. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is the season sponsor of the Kimmel Center’s 2016-2017 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.
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