Manuel Valera New Cuban Express Big Band
Release Date: 28 August 2020
Label: Greenleaf Music
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 186980000800
Description
"Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Manuel Valera (Paquito D'Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, Steve Smith) presents the dynamic debut of his New Cuban Express Big Band. Inspired by José MartÃ, the famed Cuban writer and independence hero, José Martà en Nueva York features Valera's song cycle of original music based on nine poems from MartÃ's seminal 1891 collection, ""Versos Sencillos.""Addressing a range of political and societal issues that are relevant even today, the texts are set for two unique vocalists, Sofia Rei and Camila Meza. Valera uses the broad palette of the big band to express a wide breadth of moods and emotions, touching on traditional Cuban music styles as well as modern Latin jazz to give MartÃ's poetry new life. Born out of the crisis of Valera's loss of his wife to cancer last year, the album is a personal cry for freedom, justice, and an expression of passion."
Tracklisting
Dave Douglas
Dave Douglas
Rodrigo Recabarren, Pablo Menares, & Yago Vazquez
Mareike Wiening
Rudy Royston
Ryan Keberle & Catharsis
Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Sound Prints
Kazemde George
Manuel Valera New Cuban Express Big Band
