This week The Soraya sends congratulations to two of our Jazz at Naz festival artists, Chucho Valdés and Arturo Sandoval. We’re sharing the news with all of you, our loyal Jazz Members and fans.
Both pioneering musicians are in the headlines this month for two incredible lifetime achievements. Valdés was named by the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship (NEA Jazz Masters) as a 2025 recipient and Sandoval will be celebrated this December at the annual Kennedy Center Honors.
The duo will perform at The Soraya on Feb. 19, 2025, closing out the fourth-annual Jazz at Naz festival in the Great Hall – reuniting and celebrating the 50th anniversary of Irakere, the Cuban band formed by Valdés in 1973.
“Originally from Cuba, pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdés is one of the most influential figures in the world of Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz,” – NEA Jazz Masters
The NEA Jazz Master Award is the highest honor given to jazz musicians in the United States, recognizing their lifetime achievements and contributions to the genre. In a Facebook post, Valdés shared his gratitude for the honor, saying he is “very honored to receive the highest recognition in (America) that is awarded to a Jazz musician!” Valdés, the son of legendary pianist Bebo Valdés, has made an enduring mark on the music world with his innovation and blending of elements of many genres. This award adds to many others the 82 year old has received throughout his career.
The 2025 Jazz Masters Tribute Concert will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. More information on this concert and other related events will be available early next year. To learn more, click here.
“Arturo Sandoval is one of the most brilliant, multifaceted, and renowned musicians of our time,” – Kennedy Center Honors
The Kennedy Center Honors awards annually recognize artists who have made an extraordinary impact on the cultural life of the United States and who continue to have an immeasurable influence on new generations in the performing arts. Arturo Sandoval was selected in the 47th group of honorees for lifetime artistic achievement
“I am profoundly humbled and deeply honored to be selected as a recipient of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors,” Sandoval said in a statement shared by the Kennedy Center. “This recognition is an extraordinary milestone in my career and a testament to the support and encouragement I have received from my family, friends, colleagues, and fans.”
The 47th Kennedy Center Honors will broadcast on CBS on Dec. 23, 2024 and will be available to stream on Paramount+ the next day. To read more, click here.
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