Musical Portraits

Personnel: Dave Valentin (flutes, panpipes, bamboo flutes, clay & procelain flutes); Bill O'Connell (piano, synthesizers); Steve Shapiro (programming); Lincoln Goines (bass); Oscar Stagaro (bass); Milton Cardona (bata drums, vocals); Jimmy Figueroa (percussion); Richie Morales (drums); Robbie Ameen (drums).
Composers: Dave Valentin; Duke Ellington; Bill O'Connell ; Carlos Gardel.
Personnel: Dave Valentin (flute, bamboo flute, clay flute, ocarina, panpipes, pandeiro); Bill O'Connell (piano, synthesizer); Steve Shapiro (synthesizer, programming); Milton Cardona (drums, background vocals); Richie Morales, Robby Ameen (drums); Sammy Figueroa (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Josiah Gluck.
Recording information: Sears Sounds, New York, NY; Sound On Sound Recording, New York, NY.
Director: Bill O'Connell .
Photographer: Carol Weinberg.
Arrangers: Milton Cardona; Bill O'Connell .
Joined by his usual sidemen of the period (a rhythm section led by pianist Bill O'Connell), flutist Dave Valentin is the main soloist on an appealing if not particularly unique program of Latin-tinged and generally funky jazz. When he stretches out, as on "Firecracker," Valentin shows that he could become one of the best jazz flutists, but thus far he has not quite lived up to his potential. Still, this is, overall, a pleasing effort. ~ Scott Yanow