Valdés has spent six decades welding Afro-Cuban rhythm to bebop harmony, and at 85 he still plays with more force than pianists half his age. The band he has assembled here is not a backing group; Lovano, Blanchard, Patitucci and Gilmore are all bandleaders in their own right. If you have never heard what Cuban piano sounds like at full throttle in a room built for jazz, book one of these two nights.
What to expect
Rose Theater wraps its seating around the stage, so nobody is far from the piano. A free pre-concert lecture runs an hour before curtain. Ticket stubs get you a waived cover at Dizzy's Club downstairs for the late-night session afterwards.
Good to know
- 59 St-Columbus Circle (A B C D 1) puts you in the same building via the Time Warner Center escalators
- Come an hour early for the pre-concert lecture, which is included with your seat
- Keep your ticket stub for the complimentary late-night set at Dizzy's Club
- Rose Theater's wraparound seating means side sections have good piano sightlines
- Suits both jazz regulars and anyone who follows Latin music
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Common questions
Who is in the band?
Joe Lovano on saxophone, Terence Blanchard on trumpet, John Patitucci on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums.
Is there anything after the concert?
Yes. Your ticket stub covers the entry fee for that evening's late-night session at Dizzy's Club in the same building.
More this weekend
