Manuel Valera: Making a Name in Latin Jazz

I like to promote our Latin music artists, as is the case with Manuel Valera. I do it because there is a lot of good music being recorded that may not reach the mainstream or radio. BTW, who listens to radio anymore?

I just saw an article on Manuel Velara and immediately wanted to share it with my LMC readers. But permit me to add my 5 cents to the interview they did to Valera in the article.

Manuel Valera’s Work in Latin Jazz

Cuban pianist Manuel Valera has been breaking ground in the congested land of Latin Jazz music. He earned a Grammy nomination in 2013 in the Best Latin Jazz Album category for “New Cuban Express”, which was released the year before and gave name to his band. In “New Cuban Express” he had the participation of Cuban talented saxophonist Yosvany Terry, Tom Guarna (guitars), Puerto Rican John Benitez (bass), Eric Doob & Mauricio Herrera (percussion).

The nomination brought him to the spotlight of Latin music, and he’s kept busy since, with a bunch of live performances and 3 additional recordings released.

In 2013 Manuel Valera released “Expectativas” with Yosvany Terry, Tom Guarna, Alex Sipiagin Hans Glawischnig (a bassist best known for work with Miguel Zenon and Luis Perdomo), Mauricio Herrera and Ludwig Afonso.

In 2014, Velara released not one but 2 albums (that makes 4 albums in 3 years, a feat not many can afford these days)! In August, he released “Self Portrait”, a solo piano recording where you can appreciate Manuel style and compositions. Then just one month after, Manuel released in September “In Motion” recorded with his New Cuban Express band, and which I’ll be reviewing for you here in Latino Music Café.

Manuel Valera Video of “Perception”

As I said, the follow-up album of his Grammy nominated “New Cuban Express” was “Expectativas”, and while recording that album Valera filmed the video of “Perception”.

Article with Interview of Manuel Valera

The link to the article of Manuel Valera is HERE. I hope you enjoy it and start following the music of this talented Latino artist.