Manuel Valera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manuel Valera
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Valera in 2024
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| Background information | |
| Born | October 17, 1980 Havana, Cuba |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano, keyboards |
| Labels | Mavo |
| Associated acts | Dafnis Prieto, Arturo Sandoval, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Paquito D'Rivera |
Manuel Valera (born October 17, 1980) is a talented Cuban jazz pianist and composer. He was born in Havana, Cuba, and later moved to New York City in 2000. He is known for his amazing piano skills and for creating many original jazz pieces.
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About Manuel Valera
Manuel Valera was born in Havana, Cuba. His father, Manuel Valera Orta, is also a very famous Cuban saxophonist. Manuel Valera graduated from South Broward High School in Hollywood, Florida. After that, he moved to New York City in 2000. There, he studied music at New School University.
Valera's piano playing is inspired by jazz legends like Bill Evans, Chick Corea, and Keith Jarrett. He has played with many well-known musicians. These include Dafnis Prieto, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D'Rivera, Brian Lynch, and Jeff "Tain" Watts.
His Music Albums
Manuel Valera released his first album as a band leader in 2004. It was called Forma Nueva. This album featured famous musicians like bassist John Patitucci and drummer Bill Stewart.
Between 2005 and 2007, he released more albums: Historia, Melancolia, and Vientos. In 2009, he released Currents, which was his first album with the Maxjazz record label.
After focusing on playing with other artists for a while, Valera released New Cuban Express in 2012. This album was a big success! It earned him a nomination for a 2013 Grammy Award. The nomination was for "Best Latin Jazz Album".
Albums as a Leader
Manuel Valera has released many albums where he is the main artist. Here are some of them:
- Forma Nueva (2004, Mavo)
- Historia (2005, Fresh Sound)
- Melancolia (2006, Mavo)
- Vientos (2007, Anzic Records)
- Currents (2009, Maxjazz)
- New Cuban Express (2012, Mavo)
- Expectativas (2013, CD Baby)
- Self Portrait (2014, CD Baby)
- In Motion (2014, Criss Cross Jazz)
- Live at Firehouse 12 (2015, CD Baby)
- Urban Landscapes (2015, Destiny Records)
- The Seasons (2017, Mavo Records)
- The Planets (2018, Mavo Records)
- Jose Martin en Nueva York (2020, Greenleaf music)
- Distancia (2022, Greenleaf Music)
- Vessel (2023, Criss Cross Jazz)
- Rise Again Vol 1 (2024, Mavo Records)
- Nevermind Tomorrow (2024, Mavo Records)
Playing with Other Artists
Manuel Valera has also played on many albums as a sideman. This means he played with other musicians as part of their band. Some of these albums include:
- 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 and Recognition
Manuel Valera has received many awards for his musical talent.
- He was a finalist in the Great American Jazz Competition in 2004 and 2006.
- He won the ASCAP Young Composers Award in 2005 and 2006.
- He was nominated for the Up & Coming Musician of the Year award by the Jazz Journalists Association.
- He received the Chamber Music America New Works Award in 2007, 2013, and 2017.
- His album New Cuban Express was nominated for a Grammy in 2013.
- In 2019, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship for musical composition.
