Otra Visión, a Cuban musical group created by Orlando Valle, popularly known as “Maraca” in 1995.

The group emerged at a time when timba was booming, but they weren’t only interested in this Cuban genre, but also in others such as Cuban jazz, instrumental music, traditional music, son, and danzón, and in reviving genres like changüí and sucu sucu. Their director’s fundamental goal was to channel contemporary Cuban music in a novel way, drawing on the purest Cuban roots and seeking to rescue and safeguard traditions.

Maraca y Otra Visión, later renamed Maraca Salsa & Latin Jazz Band, was initially composed of eight members, primarily performing Latin Jazz or Cuban Jazz. Gradually, two excellent singers joined the group. Currently, Otra Visión is made up of twelve musicians.

Many songs performed by Otra Visión are modern but maintain the purest Cuban music, such as “Discharge Total,” which is so modern yet has a traditional foundation. Other very popular songs include “Castigala,” “Discharge Total,” and “Soy Yo.”

It’s an internationally renowned orchestra, whose jazz roots have been extensively explored in festivals and venues. They’ve performed at every festival worldwide, taking their music to countless renowned venues around the world. These include the Playboy Festival in Los Angeles, the Lincoln Center in New York, Colorado, Montreal, Europe, Africa, Martinique, Saint Lucia, and Colombia. They’ve played in more than 35 countries around the world, including almost all of Europe and the United States—where they’ve toured extensively several times a year since 1996—as well as Canada, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

They have shared the stage with international music greats such as José Alberto El Canario, Johnny Pacheco, and Tito Puentes.

The album Tremenda Rumba (2003) is considered by critics and specialists as an innovation for Salsa, at a time when it began to come to a standstill.

This group has been the recipient of numerous national and international awards and recognitions, including: EGREM National Record Award for Best Latin-Jazz Album for Fórmula Uno (1995), Cubadisco and EGREM Awards for Best Fusion Albums (1999, 2001). Nominated for a North American Grammy in 2003 for Best Salsa Album of the Year and Best Selling on the Billboard Top 20 Latin Album. Nominated for a CUBADISCO Award for Best Salsa Album of the Year for Tremenda Rumba (2003).

Discography: Formula One (1995), Havana Calling (1996), Sonando (1998), Afro Cuban Jazz Project: Descarga Uno (1998), Descarga Total (2000), Tremenda Rumba (2002), Best Of Maraca (2003), Soy Yo (2005), What I Want Is a Party (2008).