Manuel Valera

Updated on Oct 20, 2023

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Origin Havana, Cuba Education The New School Labels Mavo Records Genres Jazz		Website manuelvalera.com Record label MaVo Records Name Manuel Valera

Born October 17, 1980 ( 1980-10-17 ) Occupation(s) Musician, bandleader, record producer Instruments Piano, fender rhodes, keyboards Associated acts Dafnis Prieto, Arturo Sandoval, Jeff Tain Watts, Paquito D'Rivera Albums Live At Firehouse 12, Conclave vol. 2, Currents, In Motion Similar People Samuel Torres, Dafnis Prieto, Manuel Valera New Cub, Peter Apfelbaum, John Benitez

Manuel valera groove square coming down

Manuel Valera (born October 17, 1980) is a Cuban pianist and composer.

Manuel Valera v a l l e j o n o c t u r n o Manuel Valera

Graduated from South Broward High School, Hollywood, FL

Manuel Valera MANUEL VALERA amp NEW CUBAN EXPRESS Harlem Arts Festival

Manuel valera new cuban express perception

Biography

Manuel Valera Manuel Valera39s New Cuban Express Live At 92Y Tribeca

Valera was born in Havana, Cuba. Since 2000 he has lived in New York City, where he attended New School University. His playing is influenced by Bill Evans, Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett, and he has worked extensively in the groups of Dafnis Prieto, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D'Rivera, Brian Lynch, Yosvany Terry, Jeff "Tain" Watts and Lenny White.

Recordings

Valera's first CD as a leader Forma Nueva was released in 2004. It features bassist John Patitucci, drummers Bill Stewart and Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez and saxophonist Seamus Blake. Historia, Melancolia and Vientos were released between 2005–2007, featuring drummers Antonio Sanchez and Ernesto Simpson, saxophonist Seamus Blake and Joel Frahm, bassists Ben Street and James Genus and percussionist Luis Quintero. 2009 marked the release of Currents, a trio recording with Genus and Simpson and it was also Valera's debut on the Maxjazz label.

After a hiatus as a leader, to focus on sideman work, in 2012 Valera released New Cuban Express with Yosvany Terry on saxophone, John Benitez on bass, Tom Guarna on guitar, Eric Doob on drums, and percussionist Mauricio Herrera.
This recording earned him a nomination for a 2013 Grammy Award in the category "Best Latin Jazz Album".

As leader

Forma Nueva (2004, Mavo) with John Patitucci, Bill Stewart, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez & Seamus Blake

Historia (2005, Fresh Sound) with Ben Street, Antonio Sanchez & Seamus Blake

Melancolia (2006, Mavo) with Ben Street, Antonio Sanchez, Seamus Blake, Luis Quintero

Vientos (2007, Anzic Records) with James Genus, Ernesto Simpson, Joel Frahm

Currents (2009, Maxjazz) with James Genus & Ernesto Simpson

New Cuban Express (2012, Mavo) with Yosvany Terry, Tom Guarna, John Benitez, Eric Doob & Mauricio Herrera

Expectativas (2013, CD Baby) with Yosvany Terry, Tom Guarna, John Benitez, Paulo Stagnaro & Ludwig Afonso

Self Portrait (2014, CD Baby)

In Motion (2014, Criss Cross Jazz) with Yosvany Terry, Tom Guarna, Alex Sipiagin Hans Glawischnig, Mauricio Herrera and Ludwig Afonso

Live at Firehouse 12 (2015, CD Baby) with E.J. Strickland and Hans Glawischnig

Urban Landscapes (2015, CD Baby) with Groove Square

Selected discography as a sideman

with Dafnis Prieto – The Sooner The Better

with Dafnis Prieto – Si o Si Quartet Live at the Jazz Standard

with Brain Lynch – Conclave, Vol. 2

with John Benitez – Purpose

with Oscar Feldman – Oscar E Familia

with Samuel Torres – Yaounde

with Dana Lauren – It's You or No One

Awards

Finalist in the 2004 and 2006 Great American Jazz Competition

Recipient of the 2005 and 2006 ASCAP Young Composers Award

Final nominee in the Up & Coming Musician of the Year category of the Jazz Journalists Association Awards.

Received a commission for the 2007 and 2013 Chamber Music America New Works Award.

New Cuban Express nominated for 2013 Grammy, Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year

References

Manuel Valera Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA