Chucho Valdes and the Afro-Cuban Messengers at the Mondavi Center at UC Davis on Sat-2/18 at 8 pm.  Buy tickets online at http://www.mondaviarts.org/events/event.cfm?event_id=1021&season=2011

Hailed as "the dean of Latin jazz" and "one of the world's great virtuosic pianists" by The New York Times, multi-Grammy Award winner Chucho Valdés has recorded more than 80 CDs during his illustrious career, performing with countless jazz masters, including Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis and Chick Corea. A founding member of the innovative Cuban super-group Irakere (along with trumpeter Arturo Sandoval), Valdés brings fiery energy and forward-thinking spirit to every performance.