PENN Presents presentation of the Chucho Valdés Quartet scheduled for Saturday, September 28, at 8 p.m. in the Zellerbach Theatre of the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, has been cancelled. In addition to his concert in Philadelphia, he was to have performed in New Orleans, LA; Atlanta, GA; Chapel Hill, Ashville, Wilmington, and Davidson, NC; and the tour was to end with a week-long engagement at the Village Vanguard in New York City.

International Music Network (IMN), the agency representing Chucho Valdés, has cancelled the Cuban jazz pianist's fall tour of the US due to problems Valdés was having in getting his visa cleared by the US "In early September, Valdés went to the U. S. Interests Section in Havana with all the necessary approval papers to receive his visa. Due to a change in procedural policy on FBI security clearances, put in place in late-August under the Homeland Security Act, his visa approval has been delayed. A backlog of clearances at the FBI has resulted in an unprecedented delay in receiving approvals," stated Scott Southard, International Agent for IMN. Valdés was also unable to accept his Latin Grammy Award last week in Los Angeles. It was thought that his visa would be cleared in time for the tour.

In fulfilling its commitment to the community, PENN Presents is pleased to partner with the Association of Latin American Musician (AMLA) for An Evening of Cuban Food, Music and Dancing, which was originally scheduled in conjunction with the Chucho Valdés concert. The dinner and dance portion of the evening have been moved to the following Friday, October 4. The dinner at 6 p.m. will be held in the Annenberg Center lobby prior to The Calle 54 Tour concert on October 4 at 8 p.m. in the Zellerbach Theatre. The post-concert dance party with live Cuban music provided by AMLA musicians will follow in the Harold Prince Theatre at approximately 10 p.m. and continue until 1 a.m. Cuba Libre and Cibucán restaurants will be providing food and drink for the dance party. Tickets for the dinner are $10, concert tickets are $47, $42, $34, $28, and dance tickets are $20.

The Calle 54 Tour concert includes Musical Director Paquito D'Rivera on alto sax and clarinet, Giovanni Hidalgo on percussion, flutist Dave Valentin, Marc Walker and Guillermo McGill on drums, Chano Dominguez on piano, Pablo Martin on bass, and flamenco percussionist Israel Suarez, flamenco singer Blas Cordoba, and flamenco dancer Tomas Moreno.

There is a possibility that "Bebo" Valdés (Chucho's father), who is scheduled to play, may not appear because of visa problems. He is still in Cuba.

Those holding tickets for the Chucho Valdés concert are asked to contact the Annenberg Center box office at (215) 898-3900, noon--6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, for a refund or to exchange their tickets for The Calle 54 Tour concert on October 4.