Pianist, composer and bandleader Chucho Valdés celebrates his 81st birthday on October 9 (a birthday he shares with his father Bebo Valdés), but he is not resting on his laurels. For the last month or so Valdés has been presenting his large scale work—La Creación(The Creation)—a three-movement suite for small ensemble, voices and big band that tells the history of creation according to the Santeria tradition.