Manuel Valera New Cuban Express Big Band

Grammy nominated Cuban pianist and composer Manuel Valera has been an integral part of the New York City jazz scene since his arrival in 2003. Valera has been prolific as a leader of his own groups, side musician on many recordings, and most notably as a composer. Valera is a prolific composer, having written close to 400 pieces for different formats and genres since the early 2000s. He has been awarded several grants for composition, including Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works in 2006, 2013, and 2017, Dranoff 2 Piano Barcardi Choice commission in 2015 and 2017, and the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award. He was a Guggenheim Fellow in 2019. As a leader he has released fifteen albums, ranging from solo piano to big band. His sixth record as a leader New Cuban Express was released in 2012 and was nominated for a Grammy in the ‘Best Latin Jazz Album’ category in 2013. Valera’s projects can be seen performing at clubs and festivals all over the world. His 2020 releases include Manuel Valera Trio: Live at L’Oson and the New Cuban Express Big Band Recording entitled José Martí En Nueva York featuring the work of Cuba’s most famous writer, José Martí. The suite was originally commissioned by Chamber Music America. Valera has had the privilege and honor to tour and record extensively with world renowned artist like Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, Steve Smith’s Vital Information, Jeff Tain Watts, Dafnis Prieto, and Yosvany Terry.