While not getting the same sort of spotlight as many traditionally-rooted Cuban music masters, Kiki Valera works the cuatro and guitar with an expertise born out of many years playing with a renowned family band. He also lent a close ear to jazz players like Pat Metheny, which accounts for the free flowing edge in many of his riffs and solos.
Vivencias en Clave Cubana (Origin Records, 2019) has got Cuban son and campesino rhythms locked up tight, and the suavely charismatic lead vocals of Valera's old pal Coco Freeman take tradition to warm new heights with the same ease as Valera's string-caressing fingers. The additions of bass, trumpet, percussion and chorus vocals are a link to both African roots and Western refining, helping make this collection of new and old son, guaracha, trova and bolero compositions (recorded in Seattle, interestingly enough) a glowing delight from beginning to end.