Manuel Valera at Pianoforte Studios
Chicago, Illinois,  23 June 2014
Photos and Summary by Bill Tilford, all rights reserved

This was a solo piano recital  as part of a wider tour in support of his new CD Self Portrait (you can read a review of the CD here.)  In order not to disturb the audience during the recital, these pictures were takien while Manuel was checking out the piano and the sound in the room (which was excellent). 

In addition to several selections from the new CD, Manuel also played variations on Gershwin's Summertime using the chords from the original composition (as he pointed out to the audience, the most common Jazz and R & B versions played and recorded by others these days use simplified chords).  He also did a rich and unique take on Tres Lindas Cubanas that would be worth hearing in recorded form some day. 

This was an excellent performance, but it would also be nice to see his ensemble, New Cuban Express, come here later this year after their next recording is out on the streets.  In the meantime, you can keep up with his latest news and music at Manuelvalera.com

(Click photo below to enlarge)