Manuel Valera

Manuel Valera is a Grammy-nominated and Guggenheim Fellowship-winning pianist and composer, originally from Havana, Cuba, now based in New York City, where he has become a vital force in the modern jazz and Afro-Cuban music scenes. Since his arrival in the U.S., Valera has earned a stellar reputation for his virtuosic piano work, deeply expressive compositions, and innovative blending of jazz harmony, Latin rhythms, and contemporary classical influences.

Valera has released 18 acclaimed albums as a leader, including projects with his Grammy-nominated group New Cuban Express, his exploratory modern jazz trio, and his expansive New Cuban Express Big Band. His compositions are deeply lyrical and rhythmically complex, receiving widespread praise for their emotional depth and technical sophistication. He has also been a featured composer for organizations such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Chamber Music America, and the Dranoff International 2 Piano Foundation.

As a pianist and sideman, Valera has toured and recorded with Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Rivera, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Dafnis Prieto, Brian Lynch, Yosvany Terry, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Joshua Bell, among many others. In 2020, he joined Steve Smith’s legendary fusion group Vital Information, further expanding his reach into contemporary jazz fusion.

He has performed in over 30 countries, appearing at world-renowned festivals and venues, and is widely regarded for his innovative writing, commanding live performances, and ability to fuse Cuban roots with modern jazz idioms.

Whether leading a big band, composing symphonic works, or delivering intimate solo performances, Manuel Valera is a defining voice of 21st-century jazz—an artist of deep passion, limitless versatility, and cultural authenticity.