Description
Dave Valentin – Jungle Garden – Vinyl Record
Dave Valentin was a renowned flutist known for his exceptional skills in blending Latin jazz with elements of fusion, pop, and more traditional jazz forms. His album Jungle Garden, released in 1985, showcases his mastery of the flute and his innovative approach to jazz music.
Dave Valentin, who has recorded over 15 albums for GRP, combines together the influence of pop, R&B, and Brazilian music with Latin jazz to create a slick and accessible form of crossover jazz. At age nine, Valentin enjoyed playing bongos and congas. He gigged at Latin clubs in New York from age 12 and it was not until he was 18 that he seriously started studying flute. Valentin’s teacher, Hubert Laws, suggested that he not double on saxophone because of his attractive sound on the flute. In 1977, he made his recording debut with Ricardo Marrero’s group and he was also on a Noel Pointer album. Discovered by Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen, Valentin was the first artist signed to GRP and he has been a popular attraction ever since.
Jungle Garden is characterized by its vibrant, rhythmic sounds that often draw inspiration from Afro-Cuban and Caribbean music, reflecting Valentin’s Puerto Rican heritage. The album features a mix of lively, upbeat tracks and more mellow, nuanced compositions. Throughout, Valentin’s flute playing is both expressive and technically superb, weaving complex melodies that are both engaging and emotionally resonant.
The compositions on Jungle Garden typically include intricate percussion, robust bass lines, and layered keyboards, creating a rich tapestry of sounds that complement Valentin’s flute. This album is a fine example of how Valentin was able to merge different musical styles and influences into a cohesive sound that was both accessible and artistically sophisticated.
Jungle Garden remains a significant work in Dave Valentin’s discography, appreciated for its musicality and the joyous spirit it conveys, making it a cherished album for fans of Latin jazz and instrumental music.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic seal with promo punch in jacket
GRP Records 1985
Track Listing
1. Awakening
2. Oasis
3. Bones
4. Love Light In Fight
5. Jungle Garden
6. Very Nice Indeed
7. I Love You Porgy
8. Eighty-One
9. Tabasco
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