A promotional studio group photograph showing (L-R) Roberto Jr. Vizcaino, José Armando Golam Horacio "El Negro" Hernández, and Chucho Valdés. Standing against a plain white backdrop, four musicians are arranged in a playful line from left to right. On the far left, Roberto Jr. Vizcaino wears a cream jacket and grey pants while holding a djembe drum raised near his head. Next to him, José Armando Golam wears a white jacket over a graphic t-shirt and holds an acoustic bass guitar. Beside him, Horacio "El Negro" Hernández wears a colorful red, yellow, and black striped shirt with jeans, holding percussion sticks and laughing in profile. On the far right, Chucho Valdés stands facing forward with arms crossed, wearing a beige cap, a matching cream sweatshirt, and cream trousers under bright studio lighting.(L-R) Roberto Jr. Vizcaino, José Armando Golam Horacio “El Negro” Hernández, and Chucho Valdés. Credit: Martin Espino

At 85 years old, Chucho Valdés is still releasing new music. His latest, Uncut (InnerJazz) (stylized “UNCUT”), includes eight tracks of solo piano all cut in one continuous session, no edits, or second takes.

The Afro-Cuban jazz icon brings a quartet that includes bassist Armando, drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernández, and percussionist Roberto Jr. Vizcaino to this set that very well could dip into many parts of the nearly 94 albums to his name.

Tickets to see Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet at Ferguson Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa on Saturday, Sept. 26 are still available and start at $54.

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This article appears in Sept. 24 – 30, 2026.

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Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief…
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