The Manuel Valera Trio Live at Diese Onze

The Manuel Valera Trio
Live at Diese Onze
AZis Recordings

"Live at Diese Onze" is the first recording made available on AZis Recordings. Publicist Chris DiGirolamo established AZis as a label/facilitator/marketer for live material. Artists provide AZis with a live recording of a past performance for which AZis provides all artwork, marketing, PR, and facilitates digital distribution. The initial relation features the trio of Cuban-born pianist Manuel Valera from April 6, 2019, at Montreal's Diese Onze Jazz Club. Besides Valera, the trio consists of bassist Hans Glawischnig and drummer Clarence Penn.

While born in Cuba, Valera grew up in South Florida and attended the New School in New York City. Manuel Valera has a prodigious technique, acute rhythmic feel, who can startle listeners with his attack and move them with a more restrained approach as appropriate. Things kick off with his breakneck approach to Monk's "Rhythm-a-ning," which is a virtuoso, stunning performance. However, the performance lacks the angularity and space of Monk's approach to his composition. Much the same can also be said about his mesmerizing take on "Evidence." Penn solos explosively on this selection. In contrast, his approach begins lighter, almost delicate at times, on Benny Golson's "Whisper Not." His solo here is a master class in thematic improvisation as well as the use of dynamics in building up the intensity.

Also of note is the lyricism and romanticism of the performances of Luis Miguel's "Tres Palabras," with Glawischnig and Penn providing impeccable backing. "But Not For Me" begins melodically before transitioning into a whirlwind display of Valera's touch, technique, and ability to craft his improvisation at warp speed. Penn empathically responds to changes of tempo and intensity. The beginning of "Searching" puts the spotlight on bassist Glawischnig before Valera starts with his magic. As Glawischnig anchoring the trio, Penn adds fiery percussion backing of the leader's dynamic piano.

Give the excellence of the Miguel Valera Trio, and one should not be surprised how outstanding "Hans Glawischnig" is. If future AZis releases are half-as-good, listeners have much to look forward to.

I received a download to review from a publicist. Here The Manuel Valera Trio performing "All of Me," with Mark Whitfield Jr. on drums in place of Clarence Penn.