Maraca

Maraca is a child prodigy born to a musical family. He started his musical career at the age of 16 as flute player in the world famous Irakere, led by Chucho Valdez. He departed the band at the ripe age of 24 to embark on his own career.

One of his first tasks as a solo artist was writing and arranging several hit songs on the first Cubanismo album, which in turn led him to create his own group in 1996, Maraca & Otra Vision.

Throughout the years, he has produced many projects, one of which was nominated for a Grammy, and toured all over the world sharing the stage with musical luminaries such as Oscar De Leon, Jose "El Canario" Alberto, Cesaria Evora and many more. Maraca & Otra Vision have performed in the most prestigious festivals and venues around the world.

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 Samuel 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 gained the international recognition required to launch his own solo career.

Maraca's initial effort could not have been more productive . He produced, directed, composed and performed the music of Passaporte (an album of Cuban percussionists Tata Guines and Anga). This recording won Maraca Cuba's Egrem national prize for the 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.

— Courtesy Calabash Music