Jazz St. Louis is thrilled to announce Jazz St. Louis Presents Paquito D’Rivera and Chucho Valdés, Together Again!, a two-night fundraising event featuring Cuban jazz legends Paquito D’Rivera and Chucho Valdés Sept. 18-19, 2024 in St. Louis.
Longtime friends and collaborators, the two renowned performers have a combined 29 GRAMMY Awards and Latin GRAMMY Awards between them.
The benefit concerts will secure the future of Jazz St. Louis’ community programs and events, which have an extensive record of developing future leaders in music, while also preserving and advancing jazz through community engagement efforts and transformative live jazz experiences.
D’Rivera and Valdés will each perform both nights, with the first event taking place Sept. 18, 2024, at Steward Center, the home of Jazz St. Louis in Grand Center.
The second night will happen Sept. 19, 2024, at The Sheldon, a larger venue to allow more St. Louisans to experience the legendary musicians.
Clarinetist, saxophonist, author, composer, and arranger D’Rivera and pianist, composer, and arranger Valdés first met in 1962. Both child prodigies and sons of musical families, the two worked together in Havana’s Musical Theatre Orchestra and in the Cuban Orchestra of Modern Music.
Jazz St. Louis CEO Victor Goines said the two-night fundraiser is an example of the world-class acts the organization continues to bring to the city.
The event follows a once-in-a-generation two-night concert in February 2024 with Branford and Wynton Marsalis that also raised much needed funds for Jazz St. Louis.
“We are honored to welcome Paquito D’Rivera and Chucho Valdés to St. Louis,” Goines said. “Performances of this caliber not only give St. Louis residents the chance to witness legendary talent, but they also encourage our community to celebrate jazz, America’s original art form.
Benefits like this support programs that target the next generation of budding musicians and great thinkers, from the time they’re toddlers through high school graduation and beyond.”
D’Rivera and Valdés are examples of musicians who were exposed to music at a young age, which changed the direction of their lives, Goines added.
“D’Rivera and Valdés are not only legends in their field, but they are also examples of musicians who grew up around music and worked hard to reach their level of talent and acclaim,” Goines said. “At Jazz St. Louis, we teach young people to appreciate culture and jazz, as well as leadership skills and discipline.
Not everyone will become internationally renowned musicians, but all Jazz St. Louis students benefit from the lessons learned and the memories made through our programs.”
