Born and raised in Havana, Grammy nominated, Guggenheim Fellow, pianist and composer Manuel Valera has become well known in the modern jazz scene, garnering national reviews and lending his talents as a pianist and composer to such notable artists as Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Rivera, Brian Lynch, Dafnis Prieto, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Jeff “Tain” Watts, John Benitez, Samuel Torres, Yosvany Terry and classical violin virtuoso Joshua Bell among many others.