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

DAVE GRUSIN - Dave Grusin Presents West Side Story (1997) Mp3

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the opening of West Side Story on Broadway, Dave Grusin revived the score, giving its ten themes fresh arrangements that keep the original melodies in mind but add a stronger dose of jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms to the music. For the most rewarding recording of this music since Stan Kenton's powerful renditions of the early 1960s, Grusin utilized an all-star big band with strings. Among the key soloists are trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, Bill Evans (who takes several superlative soprano solos), Michael Brecker on tenor, baritonist Ronnie Cuber and flutist Dave Valentin (who is featured on a purposely cute rendition of "I Feel Pretty") plus the pianist/leader, who clearly loves the music. In addition, one song apiece features vocalists Jonathan Butler ("Maria"), Gloria Estefan and Jon Secada. Although one wishes that the singers were more jazz-oriented (or that the entire date were instrumental), the overall result is a very respectful yet creative reworking of the famous score. Highly recommended. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Prologue 5:01
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim
Arranged By – Dave Grusin, Don Sebesky
2     Something's Coming 5:34
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim
Arranged By – Dave Grusin, Don Sebesky
3     Jet Song 7:42
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim
Arranged By – Dave Grusin, Michael Abene
4     Maria 4:24
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim
Arranged By – Dave Grusin
5     Cool 4:48
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim
Arranged By – Dave Grusin, Tom Scott
6     Tonight 4:05
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim
Arranged By – Dave Grusin
7     I Feel Pretty 5:16
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim
Arranged By – Dave Grusin
8     One Hand, One Heart 4:30
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim
Arranged By – Dave Grusin
9     Somewhere 4:26
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim
Arranged By – Dave Grusin
10     America 8:20
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim
Arranged By – Dave Grusin, Michael Abene
All Credits :

MONGO SANTAMARIA AND FRIENDS - Mambo Mongo (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Mango Santamaria utilizes a colorful cast of musicians on this CD. Flutists Hubert Laws and Dave Valentin are featured on two songs apiece (although unfortunately not together) and the nonet has trumpeter Eddie Allen, altoist Jimmy Cozier, and Craig Rivers on tenor and soprano, along with three percussionists. There are a lot of percussion features including the closing nine-and-a-half minute "La Mogolla," making this an excellent if not quite essential recording. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Dark Before the Dawn 5:45
Ronnie Mathews
2    Caribbean Sunrise 4:49
Hilton Ruiz
3    Mambo Mongo 6:56
William Allen
4    Los Ninos del Mundo 6:05
Eddie Allen
5    Cali 5:07
Eddie Allen
6    Are They Only Dreams 5:02
Onaje Allan Gumbs
7    Cuco y Olga 6:04
Cuco Martinez / Nicholas Martinez
8    Azteca 5:23
Marty Sheller
9    La Mogolla 9:31
Mongo Santamaria
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Jimmy Cozier
Bass – Guillermo Edgehill
Bata [Itotele] – Jerome Goldschmidt (tracks: 9)
Congas – Mongo Santamaria
Flute – Dave Valentin (tracks: 2, 4), Hubert Laws (tracks: 1, 6)
Percussion, Vocals – Eddie Rodriguez
Piano – Dario Eskenazi
Producer – David Chesky
Tambora [Cata] – Jerome Goldschmidt (tracks: 8)
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Craig Rivers
Timbales – Johnny Andreu Almendra
Trumpet – Eddie Allen 

CARIBBEAN JAZZ PROJECT – Paraiso (2001) APE (image+.cue), lossless

When Dave Samuels first formed the Caribbean Jazz Project with, at that time, Paquito D'Rivera and Andy Narell, it was an extension of his own studies in Latin jazz that had been part of his music -- both solo and with Spyro Gyra -- since the mid-'70s. After two albums with the first team, the Project was set aside for other gigs. During this time, Samuels kindled musical friendships with flutist Dave Valentin and guitarist Steve Khan, and Samuels got excited about the possibility of playing off of a traditional Latin instrument -- flute -- and the guitar, which wasn't. This current lineup released New Horizons in early 2000, and Paraiso is an exciting fusion of many different influences and styles. Most of these tunes are over seven minutes, allowing for a live dynamic without the trappings of airplay consideration. Samuels' "One Step Ahead" begins mystically with flute and soundscaping, then romps as a duet between vibes and flute -- backed by increasingly powerful percussion patterns and improvisations -- before Khan's crisp and subtle electric lines offer an irresistible power and edge. The slow dance "Naima" is a loving twist on a Coltrane tune, pepped up by a breezy extended flugelhorn solo by Ray Vega. Khan plays a subtle rhythm line behind a bouncy cha-cha groove and Valentin's cheery flute on "El Tacano." The Duke Ellington standard "Caravan" rolls along at a brisk pace, with Khan backing exciting melodic and improv passages by Samuels and Valentin. Samuels' "Jamboree" is smooth and silky, very much reminiscent of his work with Spyro Gyra -- but think flute in the lead instead of Jay Beckenstein's sax. Overall, this is another glorious celebration of the ways traditional and Latin jazz can meet on common ground. It's a disc that can be appreciated by hardcore fusion fans as well as Latin fans who just want to party. Jonathan Widran  
Tracklist :
1    One Step Ahead 9:10
Written-By – Dave Samuels
2    Naima 7:08
Written-By – John Coltrane
3    Maluco 7:00
Written-By – Steve Khan
4    Caravan 9:32
Written-By – Duke Ellington, Juan Tizol
5    El Tacano 7:23
Written-By – Steve Khan
6    Five For Elvin 6:50
Written-By – Dave Samuels
7    Second Opinion 5:22
Written-By – Dave Samuels
8    Jamboree 6:09
Written-By – Dave Samuels
9    ¡Ca-ni-mo! 6:21
Written-By – Steve Khan
10    Obaricoso / Ritmos, Colores y Sentidos 3:55
Written-By – Mongo Santamaria, Richie Flores
Credits :
Bass – Rubén Rodriguez
Congas, Shekere – Richie Flores
Drums – Dafnis Prieto (faixas: 10)
Flute – Dave Valentin
Guest, Congas – Poncho Sanchez (faixas: 8)
Guest, Flugelhorn – Ray Vega (faixas: 2)
Guest, Trombone – Conrad Herwig (faixas: 2, 4)
Guitar, Guiro – Steve Khan
Timbales, Percussion – Dafnis Prieto (faixas: 1, 4, 6, 7), Luisito Quintero (faixas: 2, 3, 5, 8 to 10)
Producer, Vibraphone, Marimba – Dave Samuels

CARIBBEAN JAZZ PROJECT - The Gathering (2002) APE (image+.cue), lossless

The Gathering is the Caribbean Jazz Project's third release; principals Dave Samuels and Dave Valentin are joined by Paquito D'Rivera, once a regular with the group, on the lively opener, "Rendezvous," as well as a Latin reworking of Monk's "Bemsha Swing." Oliver Nelson's classic "Stolen Moments" comes in for a moody 7/4 treatment. Pianist Dario Eskanazi, bassist Ruben Rodriguez, and percussionists Dafnis Prieto, Richie Flores, and Robert Quintero provide strong backing for the front-and-center solo exchanges of Samuels and Valentin. The band is consistently melodic and accessible, not just on romantic themes like "Libertad" and "The Path" but also on more adventurous fare like Prieto's "El Guarachero Intrigozo (The Scheming Party Animal)" and the big finish, "Masacoteando (In the Groove)." by David R. Adler
Tracklist :
1    Rendezvous 5:19
Written-By – Dave Samuels
2    Stolen Moments 7:25
Arranged By – Dave Samuels
Written-By – Oliver Nelson
3    See You In A Minute 4:51
Written-By – Dave Valentin
4    The Gathering 5:53
Written-By – Dave Samuels
5    Bemsha Swing 7:36
Arranged By – Dave Samuels
Written-By – Thelonious Monk
6    Libertad 4:49
Written-By – Ruben Rodriguez
7    El Guarachero Intrigozo (The Scheming Party Animal) 5:34
Written-By – Dafnis Prieto
8    The Path 5:48
Written-By – Dave Samuels
9    Masacoteando (In The Groove) 3:04
Written-By – Dafnis Prieto, Richie Flores
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Paquito D'Rivera
Bass – Ruben Rodriguez
Congas – Richie Flores (faixas: 1 to 5, 7, 9), Roberto Quintero (faixas: 6)
Drums, Timbales – Dafnis Prieto
Flute – Dave Valentin
Percussion – Roberto Quintero (faixas: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8)
Piano – Dario Eskenazi
Vibraphone [Vibes], Marimba, Producer, Liner Notes – Dave Samuels