Chucho Valdes - Fantasia Cubana (2002)

Tracklist

01 - Chopin: Prelude In E Minor
02 - Three Faces Of Lecuona: La Comparasa - No. 1
03 - Three Faces Of Lecuona: La Comparasa - No. 2
04 - Three Faces Of Lecuona: La Comparasa - No. 3
05 - Wakamba
06 - Debussy: Reverie & Arabesque
07 - Chopin: Waltz In A Minor
08 - Sunrise
09 - My Reverie
10 - Fantasia Cubana
11 - Ravel: Pavane For A Dead Princess
12 - Tumbao
13 - La Campesina
14 - Impromptu

personnel :

Chucho Valdes - piano

FANTASIA CUBANA was nominated for the 2003 Latin Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album.

As one of Cuba's greatest Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz pianists and long an important bandleader, Jesus Chucho Valdes has earned international renown and a devoted audience of jazz fans. However, the imaginative composer and virtuosic improviser does not waiver from his ability to interpret acknowledged classics. Fantasia Cubana: Variations on Classical Themes demonstrates this attribute and reveals Chucho Valdes in peak form. He pays homage to Ernesto Lecuona, the concert pianist and founder of the Havana Symphony who is generally recognized as the most important Cuban musician of the first half of the 20th century. The recording includes 14 compositions with three completely different takes of "Chopin: Three Faces of Lecuona: La Comparsa." Valdes, who performs in a solo setting on this recording, also plays a set of colorful, gentle originals, including "Sunrise," the title track, "La Campesina," and a very percussive "Wakamba." His mastery of polyrhythms is remarkable and his wonderful variations on classical themes uplift the music to how the original composers might enjoy them or change them to reflect the impact of the 21st century. These songs are also a powerful tribute to the enormous influence of Zenaida Romeu (who taught him classical piano) and his North American jazz pianist influences, McCoy Tyner and Oscar Peterson. ~ Paula Edelstein