Personnel:
Ramón Valle (p), Dafnis Prieto (d), Felix Betancourt (s), Antonio Guillem (b)
Reference: AV 006 CD
"The greatest talent among our young pianists." Chucho Valdes, prominent musician and founder of Irakere, used these words to introduce Ramón Valle on his debut album Levitando (1993). On this first CD, Valle revealed himself as a pianist with a sound of his own. Although the influence of classical music and especially of the triumvirate Jarrett-Corea-Hancock can be heard, the remarkable thing about Valle's music is his ability to weld these diverse influences to create a unique style that eludes traditional categories. Rather than being a pianist who plays Latin Jazz or Cuban Jazz, Valle is a Cuban jazz pianist. He produces pure, contemporary jazz. Although clearly present, his Cuban roots never form the basis of his pieces. In his own words, "I am a Cuban musician who falls within the category called 'jazz', but my music borders on many other musical forms. Sometimes I feel like a troubadour, because I tell stories, stories without words."
Tracklisting:
1. Principe Enano
2. ¡Upa!
3. Recitativoo en Ti
4. Patry y Oliver
5. Pesadilla
6. Y si Volviera
7. Aire Gitano
8. Levitando