Bele Bele en La Habana

Chucho Valdes

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 30, 1998)
• Original Release Date: June 30, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000007QQF
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #99,475 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

His two decades of success as leader, main composer, and arranger of the supercharged Cuban jazz fusion group Irakere have often obscured the talents of Jesus "Chucho" Valdés as a pianist. Now Valdés seems ready, indeed eager, to take his playing center stage. Bele Bele en la Habana, recorded in Toronto early in 1998, features Valdés with a stripped-down quartet playing a program of originals and Cuban standards. It's an impressive show. With sure technique, Valdés seamlessly blends elements of jazz (postbop phrasing and rich harmonies reminiscent of Bill Evans), classical, and Afro-Cuban music. He offers high energy and lyricism ("Son Montuno"), an implacable groove ("Con Poco Coco," "La Sitiera," "But Not for Me"), and even a dash of melodrama now and then (the classic "Tres Lindas Cubanas"). Irakere might have lost their leader, but jazz has gained a superior pianist. --Fernando Gonzalez

Jazz Times

Hurricane Chucho, a much-revered maestro in Havana, president of the Havana Jazz Festival and the embodiment of modern Cuban jazz piano, is better represented by this date than he has ever been. The music fairly leaps from your speakers, piano and rhythms grabbing you forcefully by the sensibilities and compelling you towards a journey that is equal parts dazzling and delightful.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic jazz: gets better and better with each listening., August 15, 1999

By A Customer

This album was highly recommended in Time magazine. When I first heard it I was a little disappointed: I expected an astonishing blast which didn't appear at first. Instead, it grows on you: that marvellous phenomenom where an album sounds better (more interesting, more beautiful) the more you listen to it: it is now one of my favourite jazz albums, up there with "Kind of Blue". La sitiera is especially breath-taking.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent Latin music for intelligent people., July 1, 1999

By A Customer

Chucho Valdes was nominated last year for a Grammy for this CD. He did not win, but should have. This is one of the finest Latin music CDs you will ever hear.

Yes, it qualifies as "Latin Jazz", but it is Latin music at its best. No, you will not hear any of the cuts from this CD on your typical urban FM radio stations--the ones which play mostly inane merengues and stupidly formulaic "salsa". Yes, folk, this CD is Latin music for intelligent listeners.

All the cuts are instrumental, except for the last one which has a background chorus singing a couple of refrains here and there.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In a word - awesome, July 1, 2002

By A Customer

I saw Chucho play live at Symphony Hall in Chicago about 3 years ago. Our seats were in the very last row, and the sound quality was just horrible...but I could hear enough to know that his group was really cooking. So I finally broke down and got "Bele Bele en La Habana", and wow, am I glad I did. Not only is the sound quality terrific (check out the bass drum kicks on La Sitiera), but the performances are just amazing. This is complex, incredible music, and has appeal that goes well beyond the confines of jazz and latin genres.