Chucho Valdés, the Cuban jazz pianist and bandleader widely regarded as one of the greatest figures in Afro-Cuban music, marks his 85th birthday with a live performance at the Gaillard Center. Valdés is a multiple Grammy winner and the founder of Irakere, the groundbreaking Havana ensemble that helped reshape Latin jazz in the 1970s — and his live shows remain a masterclass in rhythmic complexity and improvisational depth.
The Gaillard Center's main hall makes for a fitting setting for a milestone like this. If you have any appreciation for jazz, Latin music, or just extraordinary musicianship, this is a rare opportunity to see a living legend on stage in downtown Charleston. Tickets are available, and this one is worth planning around.