Chucho Valdés and Freddy Cole at the Valladolid Jazz Festival

Besides the classical jazz made by pianists Freddy Cole and Chucho Valdés, and saxophonist Kenny Garrett, Canadian Sheila Cooper and her quartet will close “one of the best performances” Universijazz has had all along its thirteen editions, according to musician José Luis Gutiérrez, coordinator of this event.

“Thirteen editions have taken place, thirteen moments, but we are not superstitious at all, just the opposite because we are optimistic and proud", said Gutiérrez before remembering that Freddy Cole—Nat King Cole�s brother—and his group will open the first of the concerts scheduled for July 15.

Born in 1931 and having recorded 26 albums, Cole “is a living history of classic jazz, the genuine one, not that one taught at school, a legend from the 1950s”, as summed up its coordinator during a press conference ran by the new vice-rector of Foreign Relations and University Extension, José Ramón González.

July 16 was the date set aside by Cuban outstanding pianist Chucho Valdés and his group The Afro-Cuban Messengers, winner of seven Grammy awards, three of them in the Latin jazz category. “He is an artist at the head of one of the greatest bands along history”, said Gutiérrez.

Kenny Garret, announced for July 17, “is the last best saxophonist of the age of Mile Davis”, with whom he recorded more than one album, he added.

Universijazz 2014 closes on July 18 with Canadian saxophonist, composer and singer Sheila Cooper and her quartet, which combines modern with classic, contrasting with the presence in Valladolid during this summer of “three legends of the jazz music”, he highlighted.

After two years at the auditorium of the Museum of Sciences, Universijazz will premiere a new auditorium at the historic courtyard of San Benito Inn, “a fancy stage” given by its “intimate and secluded nature”, both for audience and artists, which makes it more valuable, compared with previous editions.

Translation: Roxana Márquez Herrera (Cubarte)