Chucho Valdes Records Song for Haitian People
HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 17 (acn) Cuban pianist and composer Chucho Valdes finished recording this Wednesday the song “Haiti Volvera” (Haiti will Return), whose copyrights he will donate to the
reconstruction of that Caribbean nation which was struck by an earthquake last January 12.

At the Ojala Studios, owned by trobadour Silvio Rodriguez, who didn’t charge for the services, Valdes told ACN news agency that he will make the contribution through the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), of which he is Goodwill Ambassador since 2006.

 Six-time Grammy Award winner and worldwide acknowledged as one of the best jazz pianists, Valdes said his love and admiration for the Haitian people dates as far back as the 50s in the last century, when his father worked for a long season in that nation.

He recalls him bringing home many remarkable Haitian popular recordings, many of them he learnt by heart, their music and even some of the lyrics in Creole, though he didn’t speak the language.

Using those memories as inspiration he composed this latest work, he said, which he will immediately include in his repertoire and will play it in all his concerts.

The Cuban pianist hopes many artists will follow his example to each contribute some to palliate the enormous tragedy that the brother Caribbean people suffered.

Meanwhile, he will start a tour today that will include presentations in Malaysia and the UK.

Marcia Porto, FAO representative in Cuba, said that simultaneously with this recording the spring sowing campaign “Fruit Trees for Haiti” will start, which will benefit 100 000 families in its first stage with seeds, tools and fertilizers.
 

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