Michel is from Havana, Cuba. He began "his conservatory training
at the age of 10 at Escuela Elemental de Música Manuel Samuell as a saxophone
major where he completed his basic studies."
He also studied saxophone
at the "prestigious conservatory Conservatorio Amadeo Roldan."
While studying at Roldan, he began developing his own unique "style of
classical and popular music combined." It was at Roldan that his
interest in Jazz was born.
Michel's unique style won him an award at the international JoJazz competition
in 2005 and the adoration of the audience. At the Jojazz competition in
2006 he received an award for composition and interpretation. This competition
exhibited Michel's musical development with "a more solid concept, both
musically and aesthetically." In 2010 Michel was given the great honor
of being on the panel of judges at the JoJazz competition.
Michel "has worked extensively with jazz master Bobby Carcacess. He
is also a favorite of grammy winner Joaquín Betancourt, Jorge Reyes, Jorge Luis
Chicoy, Orlando Sánchez, grammy winner Maraca and most notably Omara Portuondo.
He has performed at the best venues in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland,
Russia, Holland, Spain and Canada."
~ Press Release - MichelHerrera.com
JOVAN JAZZ (excerpt):
"Joven Jazz All Stars is led by a saxophone player, Michel Herrera, who is an absolutely incredible
and very highly respected musician in Cuba's jazz community. He plays regularly with Maraca, Bobby
Carcasses, Josef Kumba, Grammy winner Joaquin Betancourt and Omara Portuondo.
Joven Jazz's new CD was a prize (all expenses paid) because they won the International JoJazz
(young Jazz festival) in Havana. Although he is still young enough to compete, Michel was chosen
to be a judge for this year's festival. The members are all incredibly skilled musicians under
age 30, and the music is very fresh and original. As further evidence of their skill and success,
they collaborated with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz band this October in Havana, Cuba.
Cuba has a rich history of amazing musicians that have been received in the US with many sold out
shows since they have been re-entering the US after an 8 year embargo.
Their CD “
En La Espera” released in September 2010."
~ Press Release - MichelHerrera.com
REVIEWS:
The Music of Michel Herrera:
An Effective Antidote To Reggaetón
"At the age of 26, the prodigious saxophonist and composer Michel
Herrera is one of the brightest young stars in today's Cuba. A graduate
of Havana's Amadeo Roldán Conservatory, Herrera organized his own band,
Joven Jazz (initially a sextet, and later expanded to an octet), in
October of 2007. Produced by Joaquín Betancourt two years later, Herrera's
awesome bandleading debut (En La Espera, Producciones Colibrí) was
recently issued in Colombia. Showcasing Herrera's exquisite compositional
qualities and lyrical sax playing, as well as his gorgeous approach to
the Cuban jazz idiom, En La Espera features some of Cuba's most talented
young jazz players:"
~ Luis Tamargo at LatinBeatMagazine.com
En La Espera
“Lovers of Afro-Cuban jazz should keep an eye out for Michel Herrera Alvarez, the Havana-born sax player/composer whose band Joven Jazz will be touring the USA, Dec. 2010-Jan. 2011 in conjunction with the release of his new CD, EN LA ESPERA (Colibri Productions). Alvarez put his stamp on Afro-Cuban jazz at a young age, while studying at Cuba's prestigious music acadamies. As a teen, he won awards at the International Jo-Jazz Festival in the categories of composition and interpretation. He has studied and played with jazzmaster Bobby Carcacess and collaborated with Wynton Marsalis, Luis Chicoy, Orlando Sanchez and the famed singer Beatriz Marquez.”~ Willard Manus - lively-arts.com
VIDEOS:
La Srta DAYANA con Michel Herrera Alvarez(Saxofon) - DILEMA.flvJoven jazz by Michel Herrera(Estaciones)Programa cuerda Viva
Michael Herrera Sax - My Funny Valentine Roger & Heart
