Maraca y Otra Visión

photography by Peter Maiden

click here for Maraca's interview with timba.com's Majela Serrano

Orlando "Maraca" Valle's Otra Visión has been among the most successful of the new Cuban groups internationally. The group made its name playing Latin Jazz, but its recent studio recordings and high energy concert tours have quickly earned it a strong following among Timba fans worldwide.

Of the bands covered here at timba.com, Otra Visión is perhaps most closely related to Cubanismo in spirit and concept, and indeed, Maraca recorded and toured with Cubanismo for several years before forming his own group.

The current incarnation of Otra Visión is a powerhouse band with exquisite musianship, two of Cuba's best and most professional vocalists in Wilfredo Campa and Rolando Morejón, and a powerful dance groove as the most hardcore Timba band. Otra Visión also features more instrumental solos than most Timba bands, including those of Maraca himself, who is one of the leading flute virtuosi in the world today.

Otra Visión is also one of the best managed and publicized Cuban bands today and has received a lot of excellent coverage in the press and on the internet. The best starting place to learn more is Maraca's own extensive bilingual website, which also features an audio clip of his biggest Timba hit, Castígala.

www.maraca.cult.cu