DAVE VALENTIN — Tropic Heat (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Flutist Dave Valentin's 16th album for GRP is one of his best. His regular group (a quartet with pianist Bill O'Connell, bassist Lincoln Goines, and drummer Robbie Ameen) is augmented by two percussionists and an excellent seven-member horn section that consists of the reeds of Dick Oatts, Mario Rivera, and David Sanchez; trombonist Angel "Papo" Vasquez; and three trumpeters, including Charlie Sepulveda. All of the horns get their opportunities to solo and the result is a particularly strong Latin jazz session. Valentin continues to grow as a player and he cuts loose on several of these tracks.  Scott Yanow

Tracklist :

1 My Favorite Things 4:40

Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers

Arranged By – Bill O'Connell

2 Sweet Lips 6:12

Bill O'Connell / Dave Valentin

3 Don Q 5:05

Arranged By – Bernd Schoenhart

Written-By – Bernd Schoenhart

4 Danzon for My Father 6:08

Arranged By – Oscar Hernandez

Written-By – Oscar Hernandez

5 Mr. Evil 4:54

Bill O'Connell 

6 Bello Amanecer 4:44

Tito Enriquez

Arranged By – Angel "Papo" Vasquez

7 Sam's Groove 6:13

Bill O'Connell

8 Tasty Mango 4:01  

Arranged By, Written-By – Angel "Papo" Vasquez

9 Sangria 5:48
Dave Valentin
Arranged By – Bill O'Connell, Dave Valentin
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Dick Oatts
Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals – Mario Rivera
Congas – Jerry Gonzalez
Congas, Percussion – Milton Cardona
Drums – Robby Ameen
Electric Bass – Lincoln Goines
Flute, Producer – Dave Valentin
Guitar – Bernd Schoenhart
Piano – Bill O'Connell
Tenor Saxophone – David Sanchez
Timbales, Percussion – Andreu Johnny Almendra
Trombone – Angel Papo Vazquez
Trumpet – Charlie Sepulveda, David "Piro" Rodríguez, Ray Vega

EMILY REMLER - This Is Me (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Emily Remler's first -- and tragically, her last -- excursion into electric jazz-pop indicates that she could have become a strong force in that area had she not died. Though Remler's Concord recordings earned her a great deal of respect in hard bop circles, she felt limited creatively and was quite anxious to experiment in the electric realm. On her final session, This Is Me, the guitarist incorporates pop and rock elements on her own terms -- maintaining her musical integrity and avoiding radio-oriented smooth jazz drivel altogether. What remains constant is the warm and lyrical nature of her playing. While the influence of Wes Montgomery and Herb Ellis remains, some of these pieces indicate that she was paying close attention to Pat Metheny. by Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1     Deep in Tune 5:24
Written, Arranged By – David Benoit, Emily Remler
2     Majestic Dance 4:49
Arranged By – Bill O'Connell, Emily Remler
Written-By – Emily Remler
3     "E" Samba 6:15
Arranged By – Bill O'Connell, Emily Remler
Written-By – Emily Remler
4     Love Colors 4:50
Written, Arranged By – David Benoit
5     Dark Passage 4:46
Arranged By – Aydın Esen, Emily Remler
Written-By – Emily Remler
6     You Know What I'm Saying 4:51
Arranged By – Aydın Esen
Written-By – Emily Remler
7     Song for Maggie 5:37
Written, Arranged By – Emily Remler
8     Around the Bend 5:11
Arranged By – Emily Remler, Russ Freeman
Written-By – Emily Remler
9     Carenia 6:18
Arranged By – Bill O'Connell, Emily Remler
Written-By – Emily Remler
10     Simplicidaje 4:53
Arranged By – Bill O'Connell, Emily Remler
Mixed By – Paul Wickliffe
Written-By – Emily Remler
11     Second Childhood 3:24
Written, Arranged By – Emily Remler
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar – Romero Lubambo (faixas: 9, 10)
Bass – Jimmy Johnson (faixas: 1, 4), Lincoln Goines (faixas: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10)
Drums – Daduka Fonseca (faixas: 9, 10), Jeff Porcaro (faixas: 1, 4), Ricky Sebastian (faixas: 2, 3, 5, 7)
Guitar – Emily Remler (faixas: 1-9, 11)
Guitar Synthesizer – Emily Remler (faixas: 10)
Keyboards – David Benoit (faixas: 1, 4)
Keyboards, Piano – Aydın Esen (faixas: 5)
Keyboards, Programmed By – Russ Freeman (faixas: 8)
Percussion – "Cafe" (faixas: 2, 3, 9, 10), Jay Ashby (faixas: 2), Jeffrey Weber (faixas: 1, 4), Luis Conte (faixas: 1, 4, 6, 8, 11)
Piano – Bill O'Connell (faixas: 2, 3, 7, 9, 10)
Trombone – Jay Ashby (faixas: 3, 5, 7, 9, 10)
Vocals – Maúcha Adnet (faixas: 10)