Aggressive and incendiary, yet also languid and sensitive,
Dave Valentin's
Live at the Blue Note not only demonstrates this artist's wide range, but the rich possibilities for the Latin jazz genre at large. Performing material from the pen of some of the great voices of his day, including
Milton Nascimento's "Cinnamon and Clove" and
Dave Grusin's "Marcosinho,"
Valentin brings a variety of both well- and lesser-known compositions to the table. All are treated with sensitive individuality, ranging in style from three-fourths samba to rhumba to funk, all performed expertly. This is thanks, no doubt, to the A-list players on the date, including premier Afro-Cuban drummer
Robby Ameen, conga virtuoso
Giovanni Hidalgo, the brilliant
Lincoln Goines on bass, and Latin jazz staple
Bill O'Connell on piano and keys. To the modern listener, this 1988 date might sound dated at times, thanks primarily to the compressed, fat tone of the recording, and the occasional yet liberal application of processors on the part of
Valentin. It is because of these considerations that
Valentin enthusiasts are no doubt thankful that this is a live recording, and hence dodged some of the era's greater production sins. All things considered,
Live at the Blue Note escaped the late-'80s virtually unscathed. Bursting with energy and stylistic innovation, this could be
Valentin at his very finest. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez