2013 Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Manuel Valera is a 34-year-old powerhouse who has taken New York by storm since relocating there from his native Cuba in 2000. Having worked with many of today's finest artists in the genre of Afro Cuban jazz, Valera made his Criss Cross debut on Brian Lynch's Conclave Vol. 2 (CRC 1331). Valera's maiden voyage for Criss Cross features his band, New Cuban Express,on a selection of originals that cover a good deal of ground, touching on both Latin and swing sensibilities. Yosvany Terry on alto sax, Tom Guarna on guitar and Alex Sipiagin on trumpet make strong statements, while Valera tastefully uses the Fender Rhodes to add new colors to the ensemble mix. Bassist is Hans Glawischnig, on drums Ludwig Alfonso, and Mauricio Herrera on percussion.

Manuel Valera advises his students at New York University to write music every day. "I tell them that composition is essentially another instrument - the more you practice, the better you get at it," says the 42-year-old piano master, who, by his count, has generated some 200 recorded pieces since he entered the fray in the early aughts. Vessel, Valera's second album for Criss Cross, showcases eight recent works, each "honoring a different person who's influenced my music." Valera made it last December, nine years after presenting another eight originals on In Motion [Criss-Cross 1372] which featured a slamming iteration of his New Cuban Express ensemble, whose eponymous first CD had earned a 2013 Grammy nomination for "Best Latin Jazz Album." The pieces on that straight-eighth oriented session mixed elements from various Afro-Cuban dialects with postbop, fusion jazz, funk and R&B, incorporating intricate beat modulation, odd meters, and intriguing ensemble color. Valera's preternatur