The Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series (DMCCS) at Cornell University begins its 2026-27 season with Chucho Valdés’s 85th Birthday Celebration, featuring special guests Joe Lovano and Etienne Charles, on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Bailey Hall on the Cornell campus.
Cuban pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Chucho Valdés, one of the foremost architects of modern Afro-Cuban jazz, was named a 2025 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master. According to the NEA, the prestigious designation honors “a select number of living legends who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz.” The NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship is the nation's highest honor for jazz artists, recognizing individuals whose artistry and influence have shaped the course of the genre.
The distinction adds to an extraordinary six-decade career that has earned Valdés seven GRAMMY Awards®, six Latin GRAMMY Awards®, the Latin Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the most celebrated and influential figures in contemporary jazz.
Joining Valdés on Oct. 23 are acclaimed saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Etienne Charles. A GRAMMY-winning saxophonist, composer, and producer, Lovano is widely recognized for his fearless artistic vision and innovative approach to jazz performance. In addition to a GRAMMY Award for “52nd Street Themes” and 14 additional nominations, Lovano has received numerous honors from DownBeat magazine, JazzTimes, and the Jazz Journalists Association, earning recognition as Tenor Saxophonist, Musician of the Year, and Jazz Album of the Year throughout his distinguished career.
Born in Trinidad, Etienne Charles is an internationally acclaimed performer, composer and storyteller whose work explores culture, history and community through music. Known for blending a rich trumpet sound with vibrant rhythmic traditions, Charles creates multidisciplinary performances that engage audiences through original compositions, improvisation, spoken word, dance and film. His celebrated projects include “Creole Soul,” “Gullah Roots,” “San Jose Suite,” “Carnival: The Sound of a People Vol. 1,” and “San Juan Hill: A New York Story,” all reflecting his commitment to amplifying underrepresented histories and fostering dialogue through music.
Artist and program information, subscriptions, single tickets, and student memberships are available through the DMCCS website. Campus maps and information about free concert parking is also available.
The Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series has been hosting musicians and ensembles of international stature since 1903. Originally featuring Western classical artists, the series presented Ravi Shankar in 1987 and has since grown to encompass a broader spectrum of the world's great music. In 2025, the Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts made a gift to Cornell University, renaming the long-standing Cornell Concert Series to the Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series. More information is available at cornellconcertseries.com.
