A Cuban pianist's band hit a wrong note with Immigration officials -- and was turned away from Bermuda.

Jesus (Chucho) Valdes' band had been scheduled to perform tonight and tomorrow at the Bermuda Festival. But visa problems have brought down the curtain on the plans.

Now Mr. Valdes could play solo at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts, giving local jazz fans a once-in-a-lifetime treat.

Mr. Valdes arrived last night from Wednesday's Grammy ceremonies in California to the news that members of his band had not arrived.

The reasons for the immigration problems are not known by organisers of the Bermuda Festival, but the band's agents were made aware of Bermuda visa requirements.

A Festival spokeswoman said Mr. Valdes chooses band members from a select group of Cuban musicians and the word may not have been disseminated properly from his New York agents.

In addition, with the United States embargo against Cuba the band members would have had to travel through Canada, with its own visa requirements. The spokeswoman said: "At the moment, all we can do is have a solo concert. We're having a problem with the visas. Unlike classical musicians, who come knowing what they are going to play, he is an improviser and may choose to perform solo.'' The Bermuda Festival, with more than 20 years dealing with visas and musicians' travels, include in contract talks the Island's restrictive work permit and entry requirements.

"We always do it ahead of time and sometimes the agents don't pass it on to the artists,'' she said. "We set out the guidelines and the stipulations. I don't know if it is a total lack of communication.'' She would not be drawn on the specific visa problems.

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