Carlos Rojas

Veteran Cuban jazz pianist Chucho Valdes pays tribute to many of his mentors and peers on Chucho's Steps. The first hint of his intention comes with the instrumentation of a sextet also featuring Juan Carlos de Castro Rojo Blanco on drums, Lazaro Rivero Alarcуn on bass, Yaroldy Abreu on percussion, Carlos Miyares Hernandez on tenor saxophone, and Reynaldo Melian Alvarez on trumpet.

The pairing of Afro-Mallorcan vocalist Concha Buika and Afro-Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes has apparently been a long time coming. But they are here together on this lovely recording, featuring songs from a wide variety of composers, in a handful of duets, or with the Valdes' band backing them. El Ultimo Trago - translated as "The Last Drink" is as much a tribute to Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, a major influence on Buika.