In an exclusive interview for OnCuba, Idania Valdés, the youngest member of the Buena Vista Social Club project, noted on the significance of being part of this band, which will go on an international good-bye tour on June 20 under the title Adios Tour (Good Bye Tour).
Idania is the daughter of famous percussionist Amadito Valdes, one of the founders of the Buena Vista Social Club, so music runs in her blood. Her first musical school was the bohemian environment at her home during her childhood.
It can be said that, in addition to the Academy, the Buena Vista Social Club founded in 1996 by musical director Jesús ‘Aguaje’ Ramos with the participation of renowned Cuban musicians (Eliades Ochoa, El Guajiro Mirabal, Rubén González, Cachaíto López, Puntillita, El Pío, Ibrahim Ferrer, Barbarito Torres, Compay Segundo and Omara Portuondo) has also been an important school for her.
She has been gifted with a warm and powerful voice. For 12 years now, she has been a member of this band. She started to collaborate with the group while she was still a choral direction student at the AmadeoRoldan Conservatory.
“As a chorus girl I had the chance to participate in the recording of the albums Buena Vista Social Club features Omara Portuondo and Flor de amor –both by Omara–. I also took part in the choir for Bajando Gervasio, by my father.
“Thanks to these works, we were invited to perform in Tokyo, Japan, where we promoted my father’s album in a famous jazz club. Then, I was invited to officially join the Buena Vista Social Club Band, as chorus girl for Ibrahim Ferrer. When he passed away, I became one of the main voices of the project”.
In the professional front, what has it meant for you to be an ambassador of the Cuban music through the Buena Vista Social Club?
“By the side of this amazing group of talented musicians I have been able to partake in important festivals and in the world’s greatest scenarios, spreading the Cuban music everywhere. It has been a school for me because I started working with them very young. I was only 20 years old when I was invited join them.
“They have basically taught me everything I know as for music.
Developing by the side of such talented and prestigious musicians has been really important for me. I’m grateful for their support throughout my career”.
What can you say about sharing the stage with Omara Portuondo and working as soloist in this project?
“It has been a really nice and enriching experience. Omara is the diva of the project; she is its greatest star. Having the opportunity of sharing the stage with her has been huge and I think I’m really lucky for that. Besides, being by her side on the stage has not prevented me from being myself”.
Next June 20, in France,begins a world tour under the name Adios Tour, which is some sort of good bye by the Buena Vista Social Club. Can you tell us what will happen with the project after that?
“The tour will last until the end of 2015, perhaps until early 2016. We will practically stop over every stage we have previously performed in the US, Latin America, Europe and Asia.
“Adios tour is a special show that covers every great hit by the Buena Vista Social Club. Of course, most founders of the band will be present such as Omara Portuondo, Eliades Ochoa, Barbarito Torres, El Guajiro Mirabal.
“Then, we will take a break. Right now I cannot tell you more because we are focused on the tour, but we will produce new albums, video clips, and there will be new ideas, as well as individual and collective projects”.
In the midst of so much work, in what other projects are you working on right now?
“I’m working on the promotion of my first CD, Menos mal, recorded with Colibri Label, musically produced by Yusef Díaz and Germán Velazco. This album was presented an award at the Cubadisco 2014. I want the Cuban audience to listen to the tracks included in the album, even though it has not been released for sale yet.
“From Monday through Friday I perform at the Havana Café, at the Melia Cohiba Hotel, with the band founded by Jesús ‘Aguaje’ Ramos, and on alternate days with Amadito Valdes project, the golden drumsticks of the Buena Vista Social Club. I don’t have time for more. I’m going to be really busy for the rest of the year with the Adios tour and the promotion of my album between tour performances”.
