Michelle Herrera Álvarez

Graduate of the Manuel Saumell Elementary School of Music and the Amadeo Roldan Conservatory, specializing in Saxophone.

He has performed with masters such as Bobby Carcacés, Joaquín Betancourt, Jorge Reyes, Jorge Luis Chicoy, Orlando Sánchez (Cuba Jazz), Franz Fernandez, Orlando Valles (Maraca), Enrique Pla, Alexis Boch, Wynton Marsallis, Roy Hargrove, Arturo O´Farril, Cyrilles Aimee, performing on national and international stages (Denmark, Spain, France, Russia, Italy, Sweden, Canada, USA).

Between 2004 and 2007 he was part of several popular dance music groups such as: Azúcar Negra, Salsa Mayor, Pachito Alons. He has also accompanied other recognized young Cuban musicians such as Yasek Manzano, Raúl Paz, the groups Ogguere and Sexto Sentido (with which he performs several times in France and Denmark), and pianist Dayramir with his jazz project Habana Entrance, Buena Fé, Harold Lopez Nussa.

In 2005 he performed for the first time at the International Young Jazz Musicians Competition "JoJazz", where he won an award in the Youth category. A year later he achieved the Special Prize in the Senior category, in the Composition and Performance modalities. Since 2005 he has performed at the jazz festivals held in Cuba each year, both as part of master Joaquín Betancourt's Jazz Band, where he is a very important element as his performance has covered several important pieces of Cuban jazz (Misa Negra, Las Margaritas de Chucho Valdés, Con Bobby Carcases, Sexto sentido, Yasek Manzano, Orlando Sanchez, Alexis Boch), as well as with his Young Jazz project and other Cuban and foreign jazz musicians.

He has participated in various productions with both national and international record labels, examples being the albums: El Sueño del Pequeño Quin, from the Big band directed by Joaquín Betancourt, Colibrí label, Sexto Sentido, Raúl Paz (Havanitation) Bis Music, Azúcar Negra (Exceso de equipaje) Egrem Alba tropic Orquesta (Italy) where several important musicians from Cuba and Italy share (Harold López Nussa, Julio Padrón, Juan Carlos Marín, David Suarez, Yasek Manzano, among others), and also participates in the latest record production by Orlando Valles Maraca.

In 2009 he recorded his first record production under the direction of master Joaquín Betancourt. He frequently makes recordings with the most important music producers in the country, such as master Jorge Luis Chicoy, Joaquín Betancourt, Emilio Vega, Orlando Sánchez (Cuba Jazz).

In 2011 he traveled to New York where he shared with relevant figures of current Jazz in the world (Wynton Marsallis, Arturo O´Farril, Roy Hargrove), and also recorded his second album (Madre Tierra).

He currently maintains his participation in different musical projects and regularly performs with his Young Jazz group, which he directs, arranges and composes original songs for.