It’s easy to say that both Chucho Valdés and Paquito D’Rivera are legends in their own right. With around 29 Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards between them, they have proved time and time again to be standout jazz musicians. Not only that, these two are best friends both on and off the stage.
Their musical partnership began when they were members of the Musical Theater Orchestra in Havana at the Orquesta Cubana De Música Moderna. Then, in the 1970s, they were founding members of the innovative Cuban band, Irakere, playing a blend of jazz, classical, rock and Afro-Cuban music. Chucho and Paquito have had a friendship spanning more than 60 years.
After Irakere, the musician’s paths separated. Chucho reinvented himself, eventually becoming a successful solo pianist. Paquito became a successful bandleader and composer. In interviews, both Chucho and Paquito reflect on their friendship and the years they didn’t spend together.
“You don’t have to be [physically] close to a person to feel close [...] We were born to be close, even at a distance,” Paquito said.
With their careers pulling them in different directions, they still managed to reunite for their 2022 album, “I Missed You Too!” If the reunion album wasn’t enough, they also announced their once-in-a-lifetime tour with the Chucho Valdés & Paquito D’Rivera Reunion Sextet.
With a friendship like this, patrons are in for an unforgettable evening on April 30 at Shannon Hall when these friends will perform together as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater Jazz Series. Best friends, let alone best friends for 60 years, have a chemistry like no other. You won't want to miss out on the Chucho Valdes & Paquito D’Rivera Reunion Sextet performance.