Press Release World Premiere of Chucho Valdes' THE CREATION - November 5

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County Presents

The World Premiere of

CHUCHO VALDES – THE CREATION
Global superstar celebrates his 80^th birthday with a musical history of the Afro-Cuban religion of Santería

Friday, November 5, 2021 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $45, $55, $75, $125*
Knight Concert Hall

Opens the 2021-2022 Jazz Roots series

Miami, FL – October 22, 2021 – The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) is proud to announce the return of its critically acclaimed JAZZ ROOTS series to the Center’s Knight Concert Hall with a world premiere performance by jazz legend CHUCHO VALDÉS (@chuchovaldesmusic) in celebration of his 80^th birthday. The Creation (La Creación), the new work composed by Valdés, features a big band, Afro-Cuban percussion and vocals. A suite in four movements, The Creation explores the story of creation according to the Regla de Ocha, the Afro-Cuban religion known as Santería.

Tickets to JAZZ ROOTS: Chucho Valdés – The Creation are $45 - $125* and may be purchased now at the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at arshtcenter.org.

The Creation was specially commissioned by the Arsht Center in partnership with The Kennedy Center, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, LA Philharmonic and Paris Philharmonie and is expected to be performed in those cities following the world premiere in Miami at the Arsht Center.

“This new work represents the accumulation of all my experiences and everything I’ve learned in music,” says Valdés, who celebrated his 80th birthday in October. “This is a moment of full maturity, personally and musically, and I feel prepared to do this work.”

The Creation represents a return to big-band sonority for Valdés. The pieces include elements of Santería ritual music, African music, the blues and what Valdés describes as “an atmosphere in the style of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew.”

“This work is very significant to me,” Valdés says. “I think it’s my masterpiece — so far.”

Performing with Valdés is the Yoruban Orchestra, featuring Dafnis Prieto on drums; José A. Gola on bass; Roberto Jr. Vizcaino on percussion; Erick Barberia on Bata and vocals; Yosvani González on Bata and vocals; Felipe Sarria Linares on Bata and vocals; Yeni Valdes on vocals; and the UM Frost School of Music Henry Mancini Institute Big Band. Hilario Durán and John Beasley are the musical directors.

Arts Education Program

Jazz Roots: Sound Check, a part of the Jazz Roots series from its inception in 2008, welcomes high school students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools to the Knight Concert Hall for free sound checks, lectures and, on occasion, opportunities to perform with headline artists from the Center’s Jazz Roots concert series. Participants also receive free admission to that evening’s Jazz Roots concert, provided free of charge by the Arsht Center.

Throughout the program’s history, students have participated with jazz legends such as Chris Botti, Chucho Valdés, Candy Dulfer, Aaron Neville and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band to name a few. Click here to watch a behind the scenes video of students experiencing a sound check with the Pete Escovedo Orchestra.

Jazz Roots: Sound Check is made possible in part by EFG; Baldwin Richardson Foods; Alan and Diane Lieberman; Green Family Foundation Trust; Quint Family Foundation; and Hazel Rosen.

JAZZ ROOTS is presented by the Arsht Center with generous support from presenting sponsor EFG. EFG is a global private banking group headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with regional headquarters in Miami, and the presenting sponsor of other global jazz events, including the EFG London Jazz Festival and EFG Lugano Estival Jazz.

JAZZ ROOTS is also presented with generous support from Baldwin Richardson Foods, Quint Family Foundation, Alan and Diane Lieberman and Steinway & Sons, the official piano of the Adrienne Arsht Center. WDNA 88.9 FM is a media sponsor.

Arsht Center Commitment to Health and Safety

The Arsht Center remains deeply committed to the health and peace of mind of our guests, artists and staff. Based on guidance from national and local health officials, masks and proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test are required. Guests may volunteer proof of vaccination in lieu of a negative test. Learn more here. This event will be seated at full capacity. We will also maintain enhanced cleaning, sanitation and air filtration procedures. Any policy changes will be sent directly to ticketholders and updated regularly at arshtcenter.org/covid-19.

Click here for PDF

Click here for image package

*All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Visit arshtcenter.org for up-to-date information.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the

Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami- Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, as well as the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations.

###

AboutUs

Set in the heart of downtown Miami, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami- Dade County is committed to welcoming and connecting ALL people to the arts, to the Arsht Center and to each other. Our stages are alive year-round with artists from around the world, innovative programming from our resident companies and local arts partners, free community events that reflect Miami’s unique identity and arts education experiences for thousands of Miami children each year.

Since opening in 2006, the Arsht Center, a 501C3 non-profit organization, has been recognized as a catalyst for billions of dollars in new development in the downtown area, a leader in programming that mirrors South Florida’s diversity, a host venue for historic events and Miami’s hub for arts education.

Each year, we serve more than 60,000 young learners and offer more than 100 culturally diverse and inclusive education programs — many enhanced by the Arsht Center’s relationship with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, local teaching artists and Miami-based arts organizations.

The Arsht Center is also a home stage for three resident companies — Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet and New World Symphony — and a launch pad for local artists to make their mark on the international stage. Our 300+ events each year include the Center’s Signature Series of classical, jazz, Broadway, local theater and much more. We present a robust series of touring Broadway musicals direct from New York, the largest jazz series in South Florida, a major annual Flamenco Festival and an award-winning Miami-based theater program. In addition, our Family Fest, Free Gospel Sundays, CommuniTEA LGBTQ+ celebration and Heritage Fest are among dozens of free events that bring together people from all corners of our community. For more information, visit arshtcenter.org.