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Valdés' concert highlights a salute to Cuban culture. Photo ©2002 Scott Pasfield

Pianist Chucho Valdés has been called the greatest jazz pianist in Cuba, perhaps one of the greatest pianists in the world by Time magazine. On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Grammy Award-winning musician launches the Penn Presents 2002-2003 season with a concert of Afro-Cuban standards plus new material from his latest album, Fantasia Cubana (Variations on Classical Themes).

Valdés concert is the centerpiece of an evening-long celebration of Cuban culture at the Annenberg Center, beginning with a dinner of Cuban delicacies before the concert and concluding with a dance party featuring Elio Villafranca and Charanga La Unica.

S.S.

CHUCHO VALDÉS: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, in Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. Dinner in Annenberg Center lobby at 6 p.m. precedes concert; dance party in Harold Prince Theatre until 1 a.m. follows concert.

Tickets for concert $39, $34, $30 and $26; discounts for students, seniors and Penn affiliates available. Tickets for dinner, concert and dance party $60; tickets for concert and dance party $50; tickets for dinner and concert $40. Tickets/info: www.pennpresents.org or 215-898-3900.