Manuel Valera

• DIGIPACK EDITION

The album fuses the music of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Brazil to forge innovative sounds and textures and draws upon searing personal experiences – going through personal loss, and having to pick up the pieces to move forward. Valera uses the broad palette of the big band to express a wide range of moods and emotions. From the haunting “From Afar,” to the fiery “Gemini,” the writing is dynamic and varied and the ensemble brings out the nuances with both grace and gusto.

The band features some of New York’s best creative musicians, including vocalists Camila Meza and Bogna Kicinska as well as standout soloists Charles Pillow, Remy Le Beouf, and Mike Fahie. Produced by Kabir Sehgal and Doug Davis, Manuel Valera presents a very personal album of engaging contemporary big band jazz.

PERSONNEL:

• VOICE
• Camila Meza (3, 4)
• Bogna Kicinska (7)

• TRUMPETS
• Brian Pareschi (lead)
• Michael Rodriguez (3, 5, 6, 8)
• Stuart Mack (on all except 5 & 8)
• David Smith
• Alex Norris (on all except 3 & 6)

• SAXES
• Michael Thomas, alto sax, soprano sax & flute
• Roman Filiu, alto sax & flute (3, 5, 6, 8)
• Remy Le Boeuf, alto sax & flute (1, 2, 4, 7)
• Joel Frahm, tenor saxophone (3, 5, 6, 8)
• Jeremy Powell, tenor saxophone, clarinet (1, 2, 4, 7)
• Andrew Gutauskas, baritone saxophone & bass clarinet

• TROMBONES
• Matt Macdonald (lead)
• John Yao (3, 5, 6, 8)
• Mike Fahie (1, 2, 4, 7)
• Andy Clausen (3, 5, 6, 8)
• Sam Blakeslee (1, 2, 4, 7)
• Jeff Nelson, bass trombone

• RHYTHM SECTION
• Manuel Valera, piano
• Alex Goodman, guitar
• Ricky Rodriguez, bass (3, 5, 6, 8)
• Hamish Smith, bass (1, 2, 4, 7)
• Jimmy Macbride, drums
• Samuel Torres, percussion

Recorded at Orange Sheep Studios on December 8 & 9, 2019 and Oct 1 & 9, 2020

TRACKS:

• 01. Expectativas
• 02. Gemini
• 03. From Afar
• 04. Pathways
• 05. From The Ashes
• 06. Impressionistic Romance
• 07. Distancia
• 08. Remembered