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Dave Valentin

Renown Latin jazz flutist, Dave Valentin, was born of Puerto Rican parents in 1952 in New York City. His love for music started quite early; playing bongos and congas before he was 10 and even working Latin clubs in New York by 12. His talent and interest took him to the well respected High School of Music and Art in New York City, where he began studying percussion.

Valentin changed to flute and complemented his formal education at school with private classes under master flutist Hubert Laws. The early influences on Valentin’s development as a flutist came from Latin artists such as Richard Egues but was tempered by American jazz musicians including James Moody, Frank Wess, Joe Farrell and, of course, his mentor, Hubert Laws.

Valentin soon began working as a professional musician in Latin bands, developing an unusual technique that featured blowing in a manner that sounded like percussion. Other unique developments by Valentin included singing into the flute and using non-standard flute instruments such a bass flute and a variety of flute developed in Colombia. He applied his techniques to a wide variety of music genres, ranging from jazz and R&B to salsa and merengue.

Despite the fact that the market for Latin jazz artists was not very good when Valentin was trying to establish his professional career, he persevered and pursued other avenues. He made a name for himself in the Far East, Australia, and Europe as well as the United States, based on his extraordinary and evident talent.

Valentin released his debut album in 1977 with Ricardo Marrero and also appeared on a recording by Noel Pointer. He was the first artist to sign with the GRP label, respected for its talented pool of Jazz artists and technical leadership in digital recording techniques. Valentin produced 16 recordings for GRP, and became a respected Latin jazz instrumentalist in the market. A highpoint release was a joint effort with Herbie Mann, 1990’s “Two Amigos.”

His more recent recordings were released on other record labels, such as “Primitive Passions” in 1996 on RMM Records. That album was followed by “Sunshower” in 1999 on the Concord Jazz label, and featuring more smooth Latin jazz, such as “Reunion,” which shows the great influence of Hupert Laws.

To his artistic credit, Valentin is also a composer, arranger, and band leader in addition to being the most celebrated Latin flutist today. He won a Grammy nomination in 1985 and the kudos of jazz fans with his selection as the leading jazz flutist by Jazziz magazine readers for seven years running.

Gino Amato: Latin Crossroads

Read "Latin Crossroads" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
October 24, 2024

The urge to take advantage of a successful commercial genre never really dies. Back in the 1960s, a studio orchestra nominally assembled by bandleader Glen Gray released a recording, Sounds of the Great Bands in Latin (Capitol, 1964). It took tunes like “Early Autumn" or “A String of Pearls" and added a “Latin" flavor with jazz enhancements. No doubt, this was an early recognition of the success of Cal Tjader. The vinyl may or may not have done well, but ...

267

Album Review

Dave Valentin: Pure Imagination

Read "Pure Imagination" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
July 29, 2011

Grammy Award-winning Latin-jazz flutist Dave Valentin was the first artist signed to the now defunct GRP record label, founded by keyboardist Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen in 1978. GRP's hefty roster of jazz artists became a popular commodity, and the label was also commended for its cutting-edge analog and digital audio engineering. Thus, Valentin's flight to notoriety via his superior technique and stylistic approaches became rather legendary. Valentin demonstrates his modern-day vision on the jazz-fusion-hued “Joy." Here, ...

231

Album Review

Dave Valentin: Come Fly With Me

Read "Come Fly With Me" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone

by Michael P. Gladstone
February 1, 2007

Flutist Dave Valentin is a New Yorker who has capitalized upon a plethora of easy-to-take Latin-lite albums over the years, largely for the GRP label. The emphasis that Valentin lent those GRP albums was fusion-ish, with the perfectly syncopated sounds of smooth Latin jazz and R&B. Of the seventeen albums Valentin has recorded since 1980, only a handful have fallen outside of this categorization. The flutist also led dates on the more authentic Latin RMM label and one date on ...

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Multiple Reviews

Jazz Flute: World on a String and Flutevibes

by Marcia Hillman
May 29, 2006

Dave Valentin World on a String HighNote 2005 Gerald Beckett Flutevibes Summit 2006 The tale of two pied pipers is told on two new CDs: one by Dave Valentin and the other by Gerald Beckett.

Starting with the spirited original “Meet You At The Coda , Valentin plays through a set of ...

155

Album Review

Dave Valentin: Sunshower

by Jim Santella
November 1, 1999

New York flutist Dave Valentin gigged as a teenager on congas before studying with Hubert Laws and taking his flute talents seriously. Today he’s musical director for Tito Puente and firmly rooted in the Latin jazz tradition.

Valentin’s latest album crosses a variety of styles, from the modern mainstream spark of “Space Cadet" to the smooth jazz melodies of “Reunion" and “Sunshower," the funk groove of “Embers" and “Porkchops," and the Latin dance of “Bandit" and “Subway Six," both of ...

199

Album Review

Dave Valentin: Sunshower

by Douglas Payne
November 1, 1999

Flautist Dave Valentin is fast becoming as ubiquitous a player as his former teacher, Hubert Laws, used to be. Indeed, Valentin has become the flautist of choice on a great quantity of recent Latin jazz recordings by such varied artists as McCoy Tyner, Tito Puente, Elaine Elias and Dave Samuels. Not as distinctive as Laws (nor as notable as many reed players who blow flute part time), he is nevertheless a highly appealing player whose often simple melodies seem to ...

Performance / Tour

Dave Valentin at Chico's House of on August 28, 2010

Source: Rouse Public Relations
August 16, 2010

Chico's House of Jazz presents a night with Dave Valentin on August 28th, 2010 August 28th, 2010 (ASBURY PARK, NJ)—Chico's House of Jazz is pleased to host Mindi Abair in our Smooth Stars Concert Series. There will be two shows on August 28th at 8:00 pm and 10pm. Tickets are available now by logging on to ChicosHouseofJazz.com or at our box office at the club. Tickets are $25 and going fast. Grammy award winner Dave Valentin, who has recorded 25 ...
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Performance / Tour

Dave Valentin at Creole (NYC) on March 13th and March 14th

Source: All About Jazz
March 9, 2009

“Creole" Music Supper Club, in association with Brownstone Entertainment Complex, LLC, proudly present: “The Jazz Legacy Series" Combine the exquisite dining experience of “Creole" with the flavor of internationally known jazz artists... toss in the nostalgia of an ambiance found in elegant supper clubs and you have our Jazz Legacy Series. Brownstone Entertainment Complex, LLC; bringing Jazz back uptown to what was once the spawning ground of the Be-bop Era, and its traditions. On March 13th & 14th, we present; ...
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Performance / Tour

Dave Valentin; Jammin' on the Hudson

Source: All About Jazz
August 20, 2008

For Our final Concert of this Season, We Present; one of the only remaining Latin Kings of Jazz on the scene today, who came up in that tradition with Tito Puente, and Mario Rivera & the Salsa Refugees. He has taken Latin Jazz to a new level, following in the paths of both Jazz and Latin Jazz greats on this instrument, such as Herbie Mann and Hubert Laws. Just as the cream always rises to the top; so has he ...
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Event

Dave Valentin; Jammin on the Hudson

Source: All About Jazz
August 16, 2008

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Performance / Tour

Vince Seneri at Zanzibar Blue with Dave Valentin, Paul Bollenback and Randy Brecker! August 25th, 26th, & 27th

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
August 25, 2006

Vince Seneri at Zanzibar Blue with Dave Valentin, Paul Bollenback and Randy Brecker!

http://www.zanzibarblue.com/

Vince Seneri blazes his way back to Zanzibar Blue, in Philly, August 25th, 26th, & 27th. His special guests will be the legendary Randy Brecker, master guitarist Paul Bollenback, and Grammy award-winning jazz flutist Dave Valentin. Zanzibar Blue is located at 200 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, (215) 732-4500.

Vince Seneri has been pleasing audiences for over twenty years. He is one of the most ...
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Performance / Tour

Vince Seneri & Dave Valentin In Concert March 4 at Greate Bay Country Club Somers Point, NJ 8pm till 11pm

Source: All About Jazz
March 2, 2006

February 12, 2006 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES The Somer Point Jazz Society Is Proud To Present LIVE IN CONCERT MARCH 4, 2006 SHOWTIME 8pm till 11pm @ Greate Bay Country Club 45 Mays Landing Road Somers Point, NJ Contact Information Somers Point Jazz Society P.O. Box 329 Somers Point, NJ.08244 Ticket Info Phone & Fax 609-927-6677 or email us at: [email protected] S T A R R I N G “TODAY'S PREMIER AND NEW GENERATION" HAMMOND B3 JAZZ ORGANIST! ...
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Performance / Tour

This Weekend @ Zanzibar Blue/ Vince Seneri, David Fathead Newman, Dave Valentin

Source: All About Jazz
July 6, 2005

July 6, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected] The Prince Of the Hammond B3 Organ Vince The Prince Seneri & Senful Records Are pleased to announce... THIS COMING WEEKEND! @ ZANZIBAR BLUE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ CLUB AND RESTAURANT “The Hottest Jazz Club In Philadelphia" A JAZZ EXTRVANGANZA AND HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN! PRESENTS! JULY 8 & 9 2005 Hammond B3 JAZZ Organist & Great! Known as the Prince of the B3 Organ! V I N ...
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Event

Hilton Ruiz / Dave Valentin Latin Jazz Ensemble April 9, Camden County Concerts

Source: All About Jazz
March 26, 2005

2005 Cross County Concert Series HILTON RUIZ / DAVE VALENTIN LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE GORDON THEATER Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey – Camden Campus Third & Pearl Streets, Camden, NJ 08102 - Concert Hotline 856.225.2700 Saturday, April 9 - 8 p.m. TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

“One of the world’s best kept secrets (Ruiz)." ~ NY Daily News

Two jazz greats arrive in South Jersey for an evening ...
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Event