Distancia

Grammy-nominated pianist Manuel Valera (Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, Steve Smith) presents his second album from his New Cuban Express Big Band, a spirited ensemble that fuses the music of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Brazil to forge innovative sounds and textures. ‘Distancia’ 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 buoyant “Expectativas”, and 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 Kicińska as well as standout soloists Charles Pillow, Remy Le Beouf, and Mike Fahie. Produced by Kabir Sehgal and Doug Davis, Valera presents a very personal album of engaging contemporary big band jazz. 1. Expectativas 2. Gemini 3. From Afar 4. Pathways 5. From The Ashes 6. Impressionistic Romance 7. Distancia 8. Remembered