Old Man Bebo

Bebo Valdés's story is familiar to fans of Cuban music: A great bandleader in the Forties and Fifties who created his own rhythm (in this case, the speedy and complicated batanga), he was forced into early retirement and expatriation by the revolution. Valdés then migrated to the piano bars of...

By P. Scott Cunningham

September 11, 2008

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "19274298",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17482312",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482310",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482313",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Bebo Valdés's story is familiar to fans of Cuban music: A great bandleader in the Forties and Fifties who created his own rhythm (in this case, the speedy and complicated batanga), he was forced into early retirement and expatriation by the revolution. Valdés then migrated to the piano bars of Stockholm. He has recently returned to action, winning six Grammys. Now, at age 89, Bebo can still flat-out play, and his integration of Haitian rhythms into his Cuban chops makes him a unique and dynamic composer. Documentary filmmaker Carlos Carcas has recorded his greatness in Old Man Bebo. The story echoes that of Buena Vista Social Club, and the material is just as compelling. Presented by WDNA 88.9 FM and the Rhythm Foundation, the film makes its Miami debut this Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Manuel Artime Theater. It already garnered Carcas an award for best new documentary filmmaker at this year's Tribeca Film Festival. Tickets start at $10 and go up to $100 for the full VIP experience, which includes an invitation to the afterparty. If Bebo can party late, so can you. Visit www.wdna.org, or call 305-662-8889.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Miami New Times has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.