Manuel Valera Quartet
The Django2 6th Avenue, New York 10013
Manuel Valera brings his quartet to The Django for an evening led by the Grammy-nominated pianist and composer. The billed group is Valera on piano, with Patrick Cornelius on saxophone, Alex “Apolo” Ayala on bass and Ludwig Alfonso on drums. It is a chance to hear a working modern-jazz band led by a musician whose projects have ranged from solo piano and trio recordings to the Grammy-nominated New Cuban Express.
Born and raised in Havana and now based in New York, Valera has built a busy career across modern jazz and Cuban musical traditions. His New Cuban Express has been described as mixing “Jazz, R&B, fusion and funk with Cuban music styles.” A Guggenheim Fellow, he has recorded 13 albums as a bandleader and worked with Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Rivera, Brian Lynch, Dafnis Prieto, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Jeff “Tain” Watts and Joshua Bell. AllMusic calls him “an expansive composer, arranger, and bandleader” with a “witty piano style,” while an All About Jazz review of Vientos noted that its woodwinds “lend a lovely blanket of sound.”
The Django offers a subterranean jazz experience inspired by Parisian boîtes, with vaulted ceilings and exposed brick walls that frame a stage equipped with a state-of-the-art Meyer Sound system. The venue combines two cocktail bars and an open dining area where you can enjoy an elevated menu alongside live performances every night. The evening unfolds with a focus on attentive listening, enhanced by award-winning cocktails crafted by Natasha David and a selection of small plates and dinner options. Shows require a cover charge and reservations are recommended to secure your spot. The setting invites you to settle in for a night of rich jazz sounds, fine food, and carefully mixed drinks, all within the cellar level of the Roxy Hotel, creating a distinct mood that feels both exclusive and welcoming.