Orlando "Maraca" Valle

Orlando "Maraca" Valle was born in Havana, Cuba in September 1966 into a musical family. He began his flute studies at the age of 10 at the Manuel Samuell Conservatory and made his professional debut when he joined the orchestra led by Bobby Carcasses, with whom he traveled to Panama to perform. Shortly thereafter he became a member of the group led by pianist/composer Emiliano Salvador. It was an experience that had a profound influence on Maraca's career.

In 1988, Maraca joined one of the most famous Cuban bands of all time, Irakere, with whom he spent the following six years as flutist, keyboardist, composer and arranger. By performing with Irakere at the most important jazz festivals and clubs throughout the world, Maraca goined the international recognition required to launch his own solo career.

Maraca's initial effort could not have been more productive . He productive, directed, composed and performed the music of Passaporte (an album of Cuban percussioniats Tata Guines and Anga). This recording won Maraca, Cuba's Egrem national prize for that best album of 1994. He won the same prize the following year with his latin Jazz recording, Formula Uno, which featured him as solo artist and included the participation of numerous stars of the Cuban music.

Maraca then formed his current group , Otra Vision with whom he recorded Havana Calling for Qbadisc/BMG. It was released in the US in October of 1996. Havana Calling was regarded by US Latin music critics as one of the top ten recordings of that year and was praised by a variety of publications: Bilboard, Latin Beat etc. It also received critical acclaim in Europe the following year with reviews in publication such as Jazzman, Jazzhot, Le Point and others.

In January of 1997, Maraca & Otra Vision were the only group selected to represent Cuba at the Midem International Festival. Also that year, Maraca participated in a successful US tour conducted by Jesus Alemany, Cubanismo, with whom he had taken part in the recording of their album. Maraca composed and arranged five tunes for this album including the following hits: the Cuban jam title Descarga De Hoy and the cha cha cha Aprovecha. The tour continued on to Europe performing at London's Royal Festival Hall. Leading his own group Otra Vision, Maraca appeared at Rome's Festival of Latin American Music and Culture. At the end 1997, Maraca & Otra Vision performed in Havan's '97 Jazz Plaza Festival along with Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, the famous rumba ensemble. Their joint performance was described by the Cuban critics as an unprecedented and unforgettable event.

1998 was definitely remembered as a turning point in Maraca's career. Ahi-Nama Music was proud to present this prolific Cuban artist's recording of a fabulous musical jewel entitled Sonando! It features 1998 Grammy winners: Compay Segundo, Barbarito Torres, David Sanchez, and many other Cuban musical legends which once again put Maraca on Latin critics top three and top ten albums of the year. Such acclaimed release paved the road for Maraca's historic 19998 North American tour. Featuring the legendary sonero Pio Leyva as guest artist, Maraca's phenomenal 15 piece band performed amazingly in major cities throughout the country.

Once again Maraca displays his musical genius in his most recent recording by Ahi-Nama Music, "Descarga Total!", released in May 2000. This explosive recording is a summary of Maraca & Otra Vision's experiences on stage throughout their tours and reflects the spirit of the 'Descarga', which translates, Changuito, the great guirero, Enrique Lazaga, and Maraca's brother, Yumuri, the talented singer and composer. Beto Arcos of KPFK, 90.7 FM says, "This album should be on everyone's top ten list of Cuban, Latin, and World music." Maraca & Otra Vision have traveled extensively throughout the world including nine European countries, the US, and Japan performing in the most prestigious World music/Jazz festivals and venues: Lincoln Center, New York, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Lugano, Vic-Frezensac, JVC Paris, Jazzebre, Jazz a la Martinique, Leeds Maastricht, Athens, Munich etc. Maraca appeared twice in March & August at the antilliaansefeesten' Festival de Anvers, Belgium, the major event for salsa and Caribbean music in Europe, sharing the stage with Oscar de Leon, and Jose Alberto "El Canario" as well as Cesaria Evora at the anniversary of the National Radio FIP in France.

As bandleader, composer, and arranger, Maraca aims to provide "otra vision", another vision of both traditional and modern Latin genres, while exploring new ways of fusing those ingredients with elements of jazz, Afro, funk, and other US idioms. But as flutist, Maraca has gone even further: He has expanded the musical jurisdiction of the Cuban flute, taking his previously underestimated instrument to virgin territories and unprecedented heights. This is why he is regarded among his peers as the Liberator of the Cuban Flute!