Magela Herrera | Flutist・Vocalist・Composer

About

Magela Herrera

Flutist・Vocalist・Composer

Albums & Collaborations

by Colibri

“Solo para ti” Anays Abreu

2004

by Mezcla

Collaborations “I´ll see you in CUBA”

2009

Recorded by MNB in Oslo

Collaborations “Live-concertProject Vargas in Oslo”

2009

by Mambo Companeros

Album “Nuestra Manera”

2011

by The Cuban Machine

Collaborations “Eliel Lazo & the Cuban Funk Machine”

2014

by Sergio Gonzalez

Collaborations “Sol og Sitroner”

2014

by Mrs Parker

Collaborations “Anything can happen”

2016

by Bronstosaurus Records

Album “Explicaciones”

2019

Magela Herrera grew up between two worlds: one, her family’s deep ties to a large set of unique traditions influenced mostly by Afrocuban music; the other, the years she spent learning and studying classical music at the Conservatory of Music in her native Havana.

Praised often for her unique background that also includes Latin jazz and Euro jazz, Herrera developed her incredible instincts and keen musical chops from 2004 through 2011 as a member of Mezcla – one of Cuba’s leading jazz and fusion groups. Towards the end of her tenure in 2010, she was nominated for Best Solo Flute from the New York based magazine, Jazz Corner, for the tune “Quien tiene el ritmo” (who’s got the rhythm) on Mezcla’s album I’ll See You in Cuba. The recording was also nominated for Best Album.

Through the years, Herrera has shared the stage with an extensive list of acclaimed international artists including Chucho Valdez, Roberto Garcia, Ruy Lopez Nussa, Barbara Dane, Ralph Alessis, Geir Lysne, Jan Eggum, Sverre Indris Joner and Hovedoen Social Club, Alejandro Vargas, Sanskriti Shrestha, Oslo Chamber Orchestra, Eliel Lazo and The Cuban Funk Machine.

She has also performed at the Oslo Jazz Festival, Oslo World Music Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Lunatos Festival (Toronto) and at various jazz clubs and venues worldwide.

Herrera’s adventurous, confidence building road from holding court with Mezcla to her emergence as a solo performer and bandleader included living in Norway for a number of years, learning all about jazz improvisation and freer forms of musical expression while gigging there and earning Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Jazz Performance from the Norwegian Academy of Music. This was a major shift in mindset from her early days studying classical music at the Conservatory of Music in her native Havana and earning her first Bachelor’s degree in classical music from the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA).

Her recent move to Miami and immersion in the city’s vibrant jazz, R&B/funk and electronica scenes have had a major influence. You can find Herrera performing regularly at venues like Le Chat Noir and Lagniappe House. In 2019 she was featured in the Miami Downtown Jazz Festival. For the past year Herrera has been a regular member of the emblematic Florida Hip hop/funk/afrobeat and electronica band “Spam Allstars."

Her own quintet recently released the long-awaited 2019 debut album Explicaciones, through Brontosaurus records. Featuring word class musicians such as pianist Tal Cohen, guitarist Greg Diamond, drummer David Chiverton, and bass players Nestor del Prado, and Dion K Kerr. Explicaciones has received rave press and fan reviews, and has quickly garnered support and airtime from major and local radio stations in the USA.

Praised often for her unique background that also includes Latin jazz and Euro jazz, Herrera developed her incredible instincts and keen musical chops from 2004 through 2011 as a member of Mezcla – one of Cuba’s leading jazz and fusion groups. Towards the end of her tenure in 2010, she was nominated for Best Solo Flute from the New York based magazine, Jazz Corner, for the tune “Quien tiene el ritmo” (who’s got the rhythm) on Mezcla’s album I’ll See You in Cuba. The recording was also nominated for Best Album.

Through the years, Herrera has shared the stage with an extensive list of acclaimed international artists including Chucho Valdez, Roberto Garcia, Ruy Lopez Nussa, Barbara Dane, Ralph Alessis, Geir Lysne, Jan Eggum, Sverre Indris Joner and Hovedoen Social Club, Alejandro Vargas, Sanskriti Shrestha, Oslo Chamber Orchestra, Eliel Lazo and The Cuban Funk Machine. She has also performed at the Oslo Jazz Festival, Oslo World Music Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Lunatos Festival (Toronto) and at various jazz clubs and venues worldwide.