Cuban pianist's sophomore record featuring Antonio Sanchez, Seamus Blake, Ben Street, Luisito quintero and a string quartet performing original compositions with Jazz, Cuban and Classical influences.

Melancolía is the much-anticipated follow-up CD to Forma Nueva, the acclaimed recording debut as a leader by the talented Cuban pianist/composer Manuel Valera.

A modern jazz project incorporating improvisation along with world rhythms and classical concepts, Melancolía showcases 11 Valera originals and inventive arrangements of the C# Minor
Prelude by Sergei Rachmaninoff and “O Melancolîa,” a popular song by Cuban composer Silvio Rodriguez performed by a jazz quintet accompanied on selected tracks by a classical string quartet.

Manuel Valera’s equanimity as a composer and arranger is astounding fresh, with each defined stroke of the key you’ll find his talent simply invigorating.

Manuel Valera - piano / leader
Seamus Blake - saxophones
Ben Street - bass
Antonio Sanchez - drums
Luisito Quintero - percussion

STRING QUARTET
Joyce Hanann - violin 1
Kishibashi - violin II
Nat Maneri - viola
Chris Hoffman - cello