Sunshower
Dave valentin"s flute can sing with the warmth of a cello or strike with the snap of a snare drum. His first album for Concord Vista finds his regular quintet (including the great percussionist Milton Cardona) joined by some truly sympathetic guests. Together, they adorn Valentin"s lush settings like raindrops on a palm leaf. "Sierra Madre" turns on a compelling, classic Latin-jazz riff, with probing solos from Valentin, guitarist Steve Khan, and vibraphonist Dave Samuels. Khan is just as vital in the support position as on the title track, where his swells of volume add color to an already multi-hued panorama. The tight interplay of bassist Ruben Rodriguez and drummer Robbie Ameen provides the foundation for the leader"s swirling flute on the playful "Bandit," while the funky punch of Dave Mason's "Feelin" Alright" is a natural for the Valentin approach. "Space Cadet" is a barely subdued scorcher, with adventurous work from both the leader and saxophonist Ed Calle, who cut his professional teeth in Gloria Estefan"s original Miami Sound Machine. Duke Ellington"s "I Got It Bad and That Ain"t Good" gets a masterful reading for acoustic quartet and shows off the superb piano work of Bill O"Connell. Plenty of fine blowing here, and Valentin"s poised sense of swing also makes for plenty of relaxing listening.--- Larry Nai, JAZZIZ MagazineCopyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.--From Jazziz