Mike Valeras is a unmistakable, energetic guitarist from Boston, Massachusetts (U.S.A.) who describes his style as jazz/rock fusion, as demonstrated on his latest release, "The Mike Valeras Group". His guitars of choice consist of an Ernie Ball Music Man Silouette Special and a Parker Night Fly. Valeras has played guitar since 1977, and clearly states his career goal, "To become more proficient as an improviser in the jazz idiom and to improve as a songwriter."
When asked about his favorite effect for the guitar, Valeras replied, "Stereo chorus," and mentioned his musicial goals, "To show people (sometimes one at a time) that there is more to music than pop radio and MTV." He would love to someday study classical guitar, and is currently listening to Tribal Tech, Chick Corea, Mike Stern and Pat Metheny. His greatest satisfaction? "My greatest satisfaction is when as player you can make jazz or fusion translate to the non musician," he states unequivocally.
Valeras lists ongoing and upcoming projects thusly, "Gigs, gigs, gigs, write, write, write, and hopefully more gigs."
Valeras's discography (available here at Guitar Nine Records) includes several recording projects (Mike Valeras Group "The Mike Valeras Group", Mike Valeras Group "Changes").
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