Manuel Valera is a Cuban-American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader. Born in Havana, Cuba, Valera began playing piano at the age of five. He studied classical music at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory in Havana and later moved to the United States to study jazz at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Valera has released several albums as a leader, including "Live at l'Osons Jazz Club" and "Rise Again, Vol. 1." He has also collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including Wynton Marsalis, Dave Holland, and John Scofield. Valera's music is known for its blend of Cuban rhythms and jazz harmonies. He is a highly respected pianist and composer, and his music has been praised for its originality and beauty.