The Yoruba Rythmic Deities: A Brief Analysis of Chucho Valdés’s Use Of Yoruba Rhythms related to My Own Performance Practice

Résumé

Yoruba rhythms have been an endless source of inspiration to musicians around the world since their African birth.[1] As the Yoruba religion has played a major role in shaping Cuban culture since the massive arrival of West African slaves on the island in the nineteenth century, a multitude of Cuban instrumentalists and composers have shown undeniable Yoruba influences.[2] Chucho Valdés is one of the most famous figures to illustrate this phenomenon.[3] For more than five decades, he has performed, improvised, arranged, composed, mixed, mastered and edited music that not only uses Yoruba rhythms but also strongly celebrates the general Afro-Cuban legacy.[4] Valdés is a pioneer and model to most Cuban musicians, including myself, because he has developed a unique and personal style through the hybridization of two powerful and distinct musical genres: jazz and Afro-Cuban music.[5] I have been greatly influenced by this pianist since I started learning music, and I believe I have been following his path in my recent quest for hybrid creative music. In this essay, I will discuss the personality of the Yoruba deities in relationship with their rhythms. Then, I will do a brief analysis of Chucho Valdés’ performance practice and use of Yoruba rhythms. Finally, I will tend to in related Chucho’s approach to my own approach. I will attempt to define and analyze both ways of approaching piano performance, improvisation, and composition and will illustrate the main differences. I will then explain why I have chosen this musical direction and sketch out my personal path within the broader perspective of contemporary jazz performance practice.

[1] Acosta, Leonardo. Cubano Be, Cubano Bop: One Hundred Years of Jazz in Cuba. Washington: Smithsonian Books, 2003, p. 59.

[2] Ortiz, Fernando. Los Negros Brujos. Miami, Florida: Ediciones Universales,1973. p-12.

[3] Acosta, Smithsonian Books: 2003, p. 212.

[4] Chucho Valdés’s Website.“Biography.” Accessed on November 9, 2015. http://www.valdeschucho.com/index.html#about.

[5] Acosta, Smithsonian Books: 2003, p. 212.