Percussion & Voice Instructor, Caribbean Music Pedagogy Workshop
Born in the Havana province of Cuba, Miguel Valdés comes from a highly musical family, which includes his father, one of the top percussionists of the esteemed Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba. Valdés graduated from the Havana National School of Art Instructors (ENIA). After extensive training, he soon found himself with a flourishing career, performing across genres and throughout Cuba with several great musicians, including Richard Egues, Tropicana, and La Ley. Valdés has collaborated with many talented musicians and groups, including Orquesta Filarmónica de Mexico, Gonzalo Romeu, Grupo Bandula, Elvis Crespo, Celia Cruz, Albita Rodriguez, Lena Burke, Emmanuel, Natalia Jimenez, Yomira John, Dennis D’ Kalaff, Ricardo Montaner, Miky Tavera, and Yuri. In addition, he toured and worked regularly with Juan De Marcos’ Afro-Cuban All Stars (Buena Vista). In 2010, Valdés left Mexico to come to the US where he now resides permanently. Since his arrival, he has collaborated with many American and Latin artists like the McCoy Tyner All Stars, Francisco Mela, Rachel Ferrer, Tony Perez, Kambalache, Steve Turre, Matt Dillon, Fellove, Patato Valdés, Elio Villafranca, Mac Gollehon, Vince Herring, Dion Person, Sexteto NY, Itai Kriss, Abdou M’boup, Alex Matos, Nachito Herrera, Michele Rosewoman & New Yor-Uba, Los Hacheros, Cotton Club Big Band, Willy Chirino, Sister Sledge-Debbie Sledge, Frank Owens, Ty Stephens, John Faddis, Terell Stafford, and Chucho Valdés and Jazz Batá 2. Valdés teaches Afro-Cuban music at Barnard College in New York City. He has four CDs and has recorded with more than forty artists. His latest CD, Lovely is broadcast on all digital platforms.
Contact Miguelo at: www.miguelovaldes.com.