Puro Son

Miguelito Valdes (www.miguelitovaldes.com) carries a rich history of performing with many of Cuba’s top performers, including the Cabaret Tropicana Orquestra, Pablo Milanes, Isaac Delgado, Mayito Rivera, Klimax and has participated in award-winning recordings such as “La Rumba Soy Yo”, which won a Latin Grammy in 2001. In 2000, he began playing with Omara Portuondo (Diva singer of Buena Vista Social Club) with whom he traveled around the world for 6 years. He has also played with important jazz musicians abroad, including Michael Brecker, Herbie Hancock, John Patitucci, Danilo Perez, Wayne Shorter, and many others.

Upon his arrival to Vancouver in March 2006, Miguelito Valdes noted that Vancouver, and in fact Canada, was being deprived of the joy that true traditional Cuban music is, and decided to bring his love for music to an already vibrant Vancouver latin music scene. Miguelito combined his talent with that of five other Cuban musicians already settled in Vancouver. Together, they formed one of the most popular Cuban Bands in the city, Puro Son. In one short year the group has already played at many festivals across Canada, and shared the stage with international Puerto Rican star Gilberto Santa Rosa. Miguelito Valdes y Puro Son is his wife, Cynthia Rodriguez (Piano), Arianne Charon (Double Bass), Zahili Gonzalez (Lead Vocal), Jesus Hierrezuelos (Bongo), and Eddy Labrada (Congas). The three women in the group also perform with the all-female Cuban group D'Talle, who have appeared on the Sunshine Coast and Lower Mainland in recent years.