Bill O’Connell -][- TRIPLE PLAY PLUS THREE – [ZOHO Music, 2011] –

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Bill O'Connell, Composer, Dave Samuels, Dave Valentin, Paquito D'Rivera, Pianist, Richie Flores, ZOHO Music

Since hearing virtuoso Bill O’Connell perform with flutist Dave Valentin I’ve been a fan, he is arguably a diamond in the ruff and one of the best pianist in the Latin Jazz idiom. –Rob Young | Urban Flux Media

Bill O’Connell, TRIPLE PLAY PLUS THREE

Bill O’Connell -][- TRIPLE PLAY PLUS THREE –Mp3– [ZOHO Music, 2011] –

New York Latin Jazz pianist Bill O’Connell’s “Triple Play Plus Three” is an innovative spin on the traditional jazz trio format, featuring percussionist Richie Flores and a rotating cast of celebrity guests – all multiple GRAMMY winners – clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, vibraphonist Dave Samuels, and flutist Dave Valentin.

“Triple Play Plus Three” presents eight lively, virtuosic O’Connell originals, plus two 20th century classics by Thelonius Monk (‘Round Midnight”) and Kurt Weill (“Speak Low”).

Thelonious Monk‘s signature composition ‘Round Midnight, has been totally re-harmonized by O’Connell. Paquito D‘Rivera‘s sweet-toned clarinet work is the perfect complement to O’Connell’s lush chords. -[Excerpt | ZOHO Music]-

::: SOURCE: ZOHO Music :::

Dave Valentin -][- PURE IMAGINATION [HighNote]

Tags

Dave Valentin, Flute, Jazz

Anyone who loves jazz has at some point encountered the music Latin Jazz fusionist & flutist Dave Valentin! Yep, “PURE IMAGINATION” is definitely on my short list to purchase when it’s released in a couple of Weeks!

Dave Valentin - PURE IMAGINATION

Dave Valentin -][- PURE IMAGINATION -(MP3)- [HighNote]

Jazz flutist Dave Valentin is a South Bronx native of Puerto Rican descent. He has played flute at Carnegie Hall and venues around the world.

At a young age, Valentin had aptitude as a percussionist andwas driven to do the best he could. At the age of 17, his focus switched from percussion to wind instruments. He picked up the flute in pursuit of a girl who played flute — and quickly played circles around her, discovering the talent that made him a star.

Dave Valentin has spent the past twenty-one years playing a versatile jazz style, marked by nimble insistent syncopation of a rocking salsa laced with tropical mystery and played on a variety of ethnic and classical flutes. He was trained at the High School of Music and Art. His unorthodox technique emphasizes the percussive side of flute playing. His playing comes from the heart and the spirit of an international culture, a combination of Brazilian, R&B, salsa, meringue, Latin, funk, and jazz. —The Bronx Mall

..:: SOURCE: The BRONX MALL ::..

Dave Valentin [|] FOOTPRINTS (Video)

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Dave Valentin, Flute, Jazz

..:: SOURCE: YouTube.com ::..

Conrad Herwig -][- Another Kind of Blue: Latin Side of Miles Davis [Halfnote Records]

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Brian Lynch, CONRAD HERWIG NONET, Dave Valentin, Jazz, Paquito D'Rivera

CONRAD HERWIG NONET featuring PAQUITO D’RIVERA, BRIAN LYNCH, and DAVE VALENTIN

Conrad Herwig - Another Kind of Blue (Latin Side of Miles Davis)

Conrad Herwig -][- Another Kind of Blue: Latin Side of Miles Davis – [Halfnote Records, 2004]

With Another Kind of Blue: The Latin Side of Miles Davis, trombonist Conrad Herwig reimagines one of the seminal albums in jazz history – timeless compositions crafted and showcased within the framework of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. It is a companion piece to his pathfinding release, The Latin Side of John Coltrane, and it finds him reveling in the company of featured bandmates who draw inspiration and energy from the spirit of Miles.

Selections include the entire Kind of Blue repertoire – including “So What,” Freddie Freeloader,” and “All Blues” – plus bonus track “Petits Machins” from Miles’s Filles De Kilimanjaro. Group members include Mario Rivera, Edsel Gomez, John Benitez, Robby Ameen, and Richie Flores. –Product Description | Amazon.com

..:: SOURCE: Amazon.com ::..

Bill O’Connell -][- Rhapsody in Blue [Challenge Records]

Tags

Bill O'Connell, Dave Valentin, Jazz, Piano

Bill O'Connell - Rhapsody in Blue

Bill O’Connell -][- Rhapsody in Blue – [Challenge Records, 2010] – Review –

Being somewhat of a novice of Latin jazz, I’m extremely honored to be acquainted with the music of internationally known composer/pianist and native New Yorker Bill O’Connell. After seeing him perform with the phenomenal Dave Valentin back in the nineties I was blown away by his (their) performance. As expected, this remarkable pianist the originator of a freshly painted canvas of ten extraordinary pieces titled “Rhapsody in Blue” on Challenge Records is welcome.

Bill O’Connell return to the studio to conjure up another tenacious blend of Latin Jazz for music aficionados to savor with each listen. Moreover, on his latest endeavor it’s an adventurous harmonic excursion that distinctly reveals why this virtuoso was thoroughly sought after pianist by such luminaries as Chet Baker, Sonny Rollins, and long time flutist Dave Valentin. While in pursuit to grow artistically O’Connell didn’t hesitate to answer his calling. Therefore, he sharpened his writing and playing skills as a pianist and later on decided to RSVP his invitation to perform with salsa great Mongo Santamaria. No doubt, this incredible beginning had to be a humbling experience for a young artist.

Dave Valentin | Live at the Blue Note

Tags

Dave Valentin, Flute, Jazz

On today, I’m enthralled to showcase one of the most accessible artist on the contemporary and Latin jazz scene … flutist Dave Valentin. Artistically, Valentin’s swift poignant style and tonality ranks at the top as my favorite flutist on the planet. Consider this, his influences are the sensational Hubert Laws, Herbie Mann and Bobbi Humphrey. After diving into Mr. Valentin’s vast catalog of albums from his tenure at GRP, as well as pondering his recent offerings, it was undoubtedly a difficult task so I decided to pull off the shelve this week his classic live recording titled “Live at the Blue Note” 1988 on GRP Records. ~ The Urban Flux

Dave Valentin | Live at the Blue Note – [GRP, 1988] – The Weekend Spin

Dave Valentin, Live at the Blue Note

Aggressive and incendiary, yet also languid and sensitive, Dave Valentin’s Live at the Blue Note not only demonstrates this artist’s wide range, but the rich possibilities for the Latin jazz genre at large. Performing material from the pen of some of the great voices of his day, including Milton Nascimento’s “Cinnamon and Clove” and Dave Grusin’s “Marcosinho,” Valentin brings a variety of both well- and lesser-known compositions to the table. All are treated with sensitive individuality, ranging in style from three-fourths samba to rhumba to funk, all performed expertly.

This is thanks, no doubt, to the A-list players on the date, including premier Afro-Cuban drummer Robby Ameen, conga virtuoso Giovanni Hidalgo, the brilliant Lincoln Goines on bass, and Latin jazz staple Bill O’Connell on piano and keys. To the modern listener, this 1988 date might sound dated at times, thanks primarily to the compressed, fat tone of the recording, and the occasional yet liberal application of processors on the part of Valentin. It is because of these considerations that Valentin enthusiasts are no doubt thankful that this is a live recording, and hence dodged some of the era’s greater production sins. All things considered, Live at the Blue Note escaped the late-’80s virtually unscathed. Bursting with energy and stylistic innovation, this could be Valentin at his very finest. —Evan C. Gutierrez

Source: AllMusic.com

The Weekend Spin [Hargrove, Sanborn, Frambrough & Valentin]

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Bassist, Charles Frambrough, Dave Valentin, David Sanborn, Flute, Jazz, Jazz Funk, Latin Jazz, Roy Hargrove

The arctic freeze is seriously kicking the eastern half of the U.S.  Apparently, I forgot to complete this … it’s obvious posting while sleepy isn’t exactly the best thing to do while blogging. Let’s kick off Friday with another diverse mix of “The Weekend Spin,” with four tasty yet challenging jazz titles delve into. Enjoy!

Roy Hardgrove

Roy Hargrove | RH Factor: Hard Groove [Jazz/Funk/Verve/2003]

This is an album that reveals as much about the perspective of the listener as about the music itself. Are you coming at this from a pure jazz perspective? There isn’t too much straight ahead stuff on this album and you may be with the critics that bashed Roy for making something more accessible than typical jazz fare. Hoping for a jazz-hip-hop hybrid? To me this is one of the more successful combinations because Roy toured with the soulquarians and has immersed himself for the past few years in this music. He’s willing to be lyrical when the time comes. I especially enjoy the track “How I Know” for example. I don’t know what neo-soul fans are going to make of this and I’m curious to see how the album does saleswise. I dig the Erykah Badu/Q-Tip combination [some of Q-Tip’s better recent work] “Poetry”. ~ Source: Amazon.com/Souldrummer

Dave Valentin – Pied Piper [Revisited]

Tags

Contemporary Jazz, Dave Valentin, Latin Jazz

Dave Valentin, Pied Piper

Back in 1980, I had the honor of hearing “The Hawk” by New York native and flutists Dave Valentin. This record featured a cast of splendid players along with the captivating voice of Angel Bofill. Perhaps, while still going through various growing pains in developing the art and or the mishaps of discovering new artists, various jazz styles, and new instruments. I found Mr. Valentin’s music to display the virtues and of idyllic messenger with the vitality of a warrior, giving this young lad [at the time] the perfect antidote for my ongoing transformation of letting music find me.