Good music and good musicians and composers, from Cuban music to jazz, including Brazilian and classical music.
.. --> Facebook Badge START -->Orlando Valle's Profile Create Your Badge.. --> Facebook Badge END -->
WATCH OUT TIMBEROS, SALSEROS AND ALL CUBAN MUSIC FANS ! MARACA'S NEW DANCEABLE ALBUM "LO QUE QUIERO ES FIESTA !" IS AVAILABLE NOW ! A HUGE RELEASING PARTY WILL BE HELD IN HAVANA CUBA ON MARCH 23RD, 2009, 9:00 p.m at the MELLA THEATER...MARACA ESTA DE FIESTA EN EL TEATRO MELLA DE LA HABANA EL LUNES 23 DE MARZO, CON INVITADOS DE LUJO...
WATCH OUT CUBAN & LATIN JAZZ FANS : Maraca's major performances at the Monterey Jazz Festival on 09/19 & 09/20, presenting a new project "Cuban Lullabies" featuring an all-stars band including Giovanni Hidalgo (congas), El Negro Hernandez (drums), John Benitez (bass), Ed Simon (piano), Miguel Zenon (alto sax), David Sanchez (tenor sax), Murray Low (keyboards) and the Monterey Jazz Festival Chamber Orchestra, was a TOTAL SUCCESS ; check Maraca's EPK !
**************************************************************
ORLANDO VALLE 'MARACA' : Cuba’s Premier flutist and fine composer « MARACA » has been described as “The most influential Afro-Cuban band of the emerging century” (HOWARD REICH – THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, USA), meanwhile Cuba’s national newspapers claim him to be “An essential personality in the actual panorama of Cuban music” (OMAR VAZQUEZ – GRANMA).
Considered as “one the hottest names in Afro-Cuban music” by The Los Angeles Times, Orlando “MARACA” Valle is highly appreciated for his spontaneously celebratory, rhythmically complex, lyrically clever, instrumentally thrilling music; his brilliant fusions embrace from Latin jazz to the most danceable tropical rhythms, and his spectacular live performances as well as his multi-awarded recordings has made him famous all over the world.
His nomination as “Best salsa Album” at the US Grammy’s Awards in 2003 made him the youngest Cuban artist ever nominated by the US National Recording Academy.
… About
ORLANDO VALLE 'MARACA'
…they said…
" (…) The hottest band of the entire festival."
Bill SCHOEMAKER for the 2000 Vancouver Jazz Festival – JAZZTIMES (2000/10) –
“Maraca’s band’s dynamic performance at Sagebrush Cantina displayed all the elements that make genuine Afro-Cuban music so addicting. It was spontaneously celebratory, rhythmically complex, lyrically clever, instrumentally thrilling (...)”
The Los Angeles Times (USA), August 19th, 2002
" (…) The most influential Afro-Cuban band of the emerging century."
Howard REICH – THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE – USA (2000/07/14)
"(…) A prime time soul band with its swirling and high-riding horns (…)."
Lloyd SACHS – THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES – USA (2000/07/14)
"One of the most incredible bands in the world (…),
a spectacular performance of new music from Cuba.(…)"
Tony MONTAGUE - THE GIORGIA STRAIGHT – Vancouver – CANADA (2000/06)
"(…)One of the few groups in the Latin jazz idiom that aspires to greatness."
Peter Watrous - The New York Times – USA (98/09/06)
“(...) Maraca sure managed to shake things up during the opening set of a four-night stand at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square.(...) It was a fantastic place to enjoy a spirited evening of lively Cuban jazz that drew equally from traditional and more modern styles.(...) And what was going on was a major party. And the party leader was the famed flautist named after a percussion instrument. And he was in town to tell us what’s shakin’. ”
The Oakland Tribune (USA), August 10th, 2002
“Valle infuses his selections with flute solos and the rapidly changing patterns that have won him his fame. That he does so in an uncomplicated way perhaps explains why he is one of the few Cubans who sell records in the United States. (...) It also speaks to Valle’s ability to reach audiences with a multifaceted approach that relies on danceable numbers and innovation.”
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (USA), June 7th, 2002
“Tremenda Rumba, his latest album with the fiery ensemble Otra Vision, has managed to make the Billboard Tropical/Salsa charts while also inspiring cyber gush from folks who claim to have followed the onetime Chucho Valdes sideman every step of the way.(...)A bodacious salsa album that dazzles where a lesser one would alienate.”
Time Out New York (USA), August 15th, 2002
"The hottest band you’ve ever heard of! (…)"
Critic’s pick, SEATTLE READER – USA (2000/06)
"Flutist/bandleader Orlando "Maraca" Valle is Cuba’s latest prince of the pied pipers."
LATIN BEAT MAGAZINE – USA (2000/08)
" (…) A superb serving of jazz and Afro-Cuban dance music.
(…) Definitely one of 98’s bright moments.’’
Chuy VARELA - Latin Beat Magazine –USA (98/10)
"(…)Orlando 'Maraca' Valle has taken on the challenge
to make something happen, to go beyond the ordinary."
Peter Watrous - The New York Times – USA (97/05/26)
"(…) Maraca is playing a central role in the evolution of Cuban music (…)."
Simon LEE, ISLAND BEAT –TRINIDAD & TOBAGGO (2000/08)
"(…) One of the hottest names in Afro-Cuban music."
Ernesto LECHNER – THE LOS ANGELES TIME – USA (09/98)
"(…) Maraca has finally liberated the Cuban flute from
the Charanga format, while elevating the fusion of jazz elements and
Latin styles to new creative heights."
Luis Tamargo - Latin Beat Magazine – USA (1998)
"Listen to Orlando 'Maraca' Valle (...) and ask yourself whether any
other flute player on earth could match him for speed, invention,
articulation and total control of tone and time."
Jack Hassarick - London Evening Standard- ENGLAND (94)
"(…) Valle’s display contained as much raw invention, musicality and,
by the end, jokish chutzpah as any string of choruses by his sax contemporary
James Carter, and the audience stayed with him every step of the way. (…)"
K. Leander WILLIAMS - TIME OUT NEW YORK - USA (08/03/00)
"Check out this young musicians and let them give you
a glimpse of what the future holds for afro-Cuban jazz."
George Rivera - www la musica.com "Peek of the week"– (97/10) - USA
"Maraca’s music is firmly anchored in the past
– a move that is likely to assure him a long and fruitful career."
Ernesto Lechner - THE Los Angeles Times, USA (98/09)
"(…) Maraca was horn-heavy (…) for an altogether
punchier sound that got people out on the dance floor almost right away.(…)"
THE EDMONTON JOURNAL – CANADA (2000/07/01)
"Cuban flute virtuoso Orlando Maraca Valle (…) has the force and ability to rise above the mix, blowing tasty improvisations while maintaining a strong sense of ensemble. (…)"
The Beat volume 17 N°4 – USA (1998)
“(...) The band worked really hard to involve the audience. And at one point, the band actually became the audience. (...) Like a brass band working a New Orleans crowd, this big band fed on the energy of the crowd and then gave it back in multiples of ten. (..)”
The Oakland Tribune (USA), August 10th, 2002
“(...) A dazzling Afro-Descarga. It is obvious : what a shock !”
Le Monde de la Musique (France) , June 2002
“(...) Maraca is not only a great improvisator on the flute, but he’s also an excellent composer and arranger.”
Le Monde (France), July 22nd, , 2002
LE MONDE
GRACIAS!!!POR TUS COMENTARIOS!!!!EL MUNDO FUERA MAS HERMOSO SI APARTE
DE SU BELLESA NATURAL, NOSOTROS SUS PRINCIPALES HAVITANTES LE DIERAMOS
ESE TOQUE DE AMOR QUE CADA DIA SE HACE MAS NECESARIO PARA PODERNOS
LLAMAR VEDADERAMENTE INTELIGENTES!!!!PUES CON AMOR TODO SE PUEDE LOGRAR
EN LA VIDA!!!LAURA FONTECHA!!FELIZ DIA!!!!QUE QUIEN ES EL? MI PRIMO
RAFA CARBALLO UN GRAN INTERPRETE Y COMPOSITOR!!MI IMVITADO EN MI
CONCIERTO.
Maraca en el Vancouver Jazz Festival por 4ta vez !
Ven a mi concierto hoy en Vancouver, va a ser tremendo, aqui te envio la informacion: The Biltmore Cabaret 395 Kingsway Vancouver V5T 3J7 Phone: 604-676-0541 9:00 p.m
Hola!!!!!!Igual
que siempre te deseo lo mejor y quiero tengas un maravilloso comienzo
de semana!!y que Dios te bendiga siempre!!!!Tu amiga Laura Fontecha!!!
Maestro Maraca como ha estado? Solo queria preguntarle cuando vuelve a Los Angeles. Yo soy amigo de Danilo Lozano. El me habla de usted con un gran respeto y admiracion.
En Inglatierra de nuevo - quando tocas aqui Maraca ? Quanto tiempo desde las frijoloadas con Irakere en nuestra casa en Sao Paulo !! Tu trabajo continua siempre maravilhoso !! Escucha el solo de flauta en Star Jamming en mi MySpace y despues mi solo de tumbadora. Llegando la pocito a pocito no ? Abrazo hermano, Felix.
