Manuel Valerz and the Cuban Express played this past Friday
evening, a hot modern-fusion of Cuban/Afro jazz, at the Rubin Museum, located
on W. 17th Street with a percussion section that had the audience
dancing while feet were taping and heads were bopping in their seats.
The Rubin is not just a museum that exhibits art from India,
but is known for their jazz series titled: Harlem in the Himalayas; for a very
modest fee music lovers are inspired in a quaint concert hall where on the
lower level an art exhibit inspires the entrance into hall. Manuel Valerz on
piano accompanied by fellow Cuban musicians alto saxophonist
Yosvany Terry and percussionist Mauricio Herrera; Valera leads an exciting
sextet that brings the voices of New York guitarist Tom Guarna, Grammy
award-winning Puerto Rican-born bassist John Benitez and much in-demand drummer
Eric Doob, to the fore in blending the Latin flavor with the high-energy
texture of jazz fusion creating the new sounds of “Latusion.” This
performance inspired energy then softly transcended moments where total
relaxation found peaceful memories. In addition, the Rubin Museum offers
lectures, and if that isn’t enough the bar and food is a great place to just
hang prior to the concert, or browse in the gift shop.
