InnerCat Music Group proudly announces that the Afro-Cuba legend Chucho Valdés and his Royal Quartet and Albita & Chucho Valdés have been recognized with three nominations for the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Awards, further cementing the company's reputation as a powerhouse in the Latin music industry. The Latin GRAMMY® nominations highlight the incredible artistry of pianist and composer Chucho Valdés and the InnerCat creative teams behind two beloved projects: Cuba & Beyond and Masters Of Our Roots.
InnerCat celebrates its three Latin GRAMMY® Awards nominations, the first being in the "Best Latin Jazz Album" category for Cuba & Beyond by Chucho Valdés and the Royal Quartet, released under InnerJazz (a division of InnerCat Music Group, LLC). Cuba & Beyond was produced and recorded with the expertise of InnerCat's Paris Cabezas (Managing Partner), who served as producer and recording engineer, alongside recording engineer Mariano Aponte.
In the "Best Recording Package" category, two albums from the InnerCat family have been honored. The first nomination recognizes the exceptional design of Cuba & Beyond, with art direction by Ana Gonzalez, Patricia Nunez, Francisco Pinero, Chucho Valdés, and Jourdan Villarroel. The second nomination highlights Masters Of Our Roots, a collaboration featuring iconic Cuban vocalist Albita and Chucho Valdés, with art direction by Ana Gonzalez, Patricia Nunez, Francisco Pinero, and Jourdan Villarroel, released through InnerCat Entertainment.
"At InnerCat, we are incredibly honored to see our work recognized with three Latin GRAMMY® nominations this year," said Ana Gonzalez, Managing Partner at InnerCat Music Group. "These nominations reflect not only the brilliance of artists like Chucho Valdés and Albita, but also the collective dedication of our entire creative team. At the heart of every project, our goal is to celebrate and preserve the richness of Afro-Cuban music while presenting it in ways that inspire and connect with audiences worldwide. To be acknowledged by our peers in both music and design is profoundly rewarding, and we couldn't be more excited to share this moment with our artists and community."
With 7 GRAMMY Awards, 6 Latin GRAMMY Awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Chucho Valdés is one of the most influential figures in modern Afro-Cuban jazz. His album, Cuba & Beyond (released September 20, 2024), with the Royal Quartet marks his 60th year in music, blending jazz, classical, and Cuban traditions in a bold new chapter of his illustrious career.
Released on May 23, 2025, Masters Of Our Roots unites acclaimed Cuban vocalist Albita (2x GRAMMY, 1x Emmy winner) with Chucho Valdés for a landmark recording featuring the indelible essence of Afro-Cuban music. With a guest appearance from Dianne Reeves, Masters Of Our Roots blends tradition and innovation into a transcendent body of work. Albita, recipient of the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Music Excellence Award, praised the collaboration: "Chucho's music provides the sonic context of an entire nation."
The New York Times pop music critic Jon Pareles praises their single ,"Mi Rumba Echando Candela," saying, "Two seasoned musicians born in Cuba, the singer Albita (Rodriguez) and the pianist Chucho Valdés, front a brassy, jazzy big band as they tear into a Cuban guaguancó standard, 'Mi Rumba Echando Candela' ('My Rumba Throwing Fire') from their collaborative album, Masters of Our Roots. The arrangement, by Hilario Durán, gives the horns some breakneck, boppy interludes. And with raspy syncopations, Albita warns, 'If you don't know how to dance it, be careful -- you'll get burned.'"
About InnerCat Music Group
InnerCat Music Group is a leading independent music company specializing in artist development, label services, and innovative technology solutions for creators. With a mission to amplify Latin music worldwide, InnerCat champions artistry across genres through its divisions InnerJazz and InnerCat Entertainment.
