National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

Making a rare concert appearance Cuban composer and pianist Bebo Valdes will conduct his 2005 Grammy-winning "Suite Cubana" for the first time in the United States. The piece will be performed twice over two nights, and is scheduled to take place October 13th and 14th at New York's Lincoln Center, as part of Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Bebo Vades, legendary pianist/composer/arranger, was the musical director of nightclub shows at the Tropicana in Havana, Cuba where he brought sophisticated jazz harmonies and melodic variations to dance hall music. Very active in the 1950's, Valdes was considered one of the giants of Cuban music, arranging many recordings, composing mambos, and organizing Afro-Cuban jazz jam sessions. He defected from Cuba in 1960 and by 1963 had settled in Stockholm. In 1994, after 34 years away form recording, he returned with Bebo Rides Again. He has been active ever since, and has picked up five Grammy awards in the last three years, most recently for "Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album" for 2006's Bebo de Cuba.

Mr. Valdez will be backed by the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with Arturo O'Farrill for this special performance of "Suite Cubana," and Mr. Valdes' son Rickard Valdes will appear on timbales. Bebo Valdes, whose 88th birthday coincides with the concert, will play also perform on piano with a smaller version of the orchestra for part of each performance.

Bebo Valdes and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra will also be performed in Miami on October 19 at the Jackie Gleason Theater. For more information on showtimes and ticketing, consult the Lincoln Center website.