Maraca Orlando Valle, one of Cuba's top flute players, was born into a family of musicians in Havana, Cuba, in September of 1966. He studied flute at the Manuel Saumell National Conservatory, and began touring with the Bobby Carcasses Orchestra
( Grupo Afrojazz ) in 1987. He joined Irakere in 1988, stayed with them for 6 years and left to start his solo career in 1994.

Maraca began his professional career in 1987, with a trip to Panama, in the band of vocalist Bobby Carcasses . That same year, he became a member of  Nueva Visión, the group led by Emiliano Salvador.  And, in 1988, Maraca joined Chucho Valdes` Irakere, with whom he spent six years as a flautist, keyboardist, composer and arranger.
While performing with Irakere at the most notable jazz festivals and clubs throughout the world, Maraca gained the international recognition necessary to launch his solo career.

In 1996, Maraca formed his own band, Otra Visión, with whom he recorded the album, ` Havana Calling `. Accompanied with his band, Otra Visión this versatile composer and arranger incorporates diverse, Cuban elements ; descarga, guaracha, pregón son, traditional cuban music and jazz fusion.
` Havana Calling ` was regarded as one of the top ten recordings of 1996, and was praised by Latin music and jazz critics in the United States and Europe.

In April of 1998, AhiNama and Maraca celebrated the release of Maraca's latest recording, ¡Sonando! , featuring 1998 Grammy  Award winners, David Sánchez, Compay Segundo, Barbarito Torres.

Maraca lives with his wife, Celine Chauveau ( Celine is the band's manager, tour organizer and she's a flute player herself in Maraca ‘s  band !) near Paris in France, where the album ¡Sonando! released on Warner Jazz  thanks to Celine's sister
Sophie Chauveau  working for Warner Jazz in Paris !

Courtesy of AfroCubaWeb / AfroJazz.com