Dave Valentin - Tropic Heat (1994) {GRD-9769}

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.

Track List

01. My Favorite Things 4:40
02. Sweet Lips 6:12
03. Don Q 5:05
04. Danzon For My Father 6:09
05. Mr. Evil 4:55
06. Bello Amanecer 4:45
07. Sam's Groove 6:14
08. Tasty Mango 4:01
09. Sangria 5:48

musicians

Dave Valentin - flute
Bill O'Connell - piano
Lincoln Goines - electric bass
Robbbie Ameen - drums
Milton Cardona - congas, percussion
Jerry Gonzalez - congas on track 5
Johnny Almendra - percussion,timbales
Bernd Schoenhart - guitar,acoustic guitar
Mario Rivera - tenor sax,bass clarinet,vocals
David Sanchez - tenor sax
Dick Otts - alto and soprano saxes
Raymond Vega - trumpet
Charlie Sepulveda - trumpet
Piro Rodriguez - trumpet,muted trumpet
Angel Papo Vasquez - trombone solo on tracks 6,7,8
Charlie Sepulveda - trumpet solo on tracks 2,4

Produced by Dave Valentin and Josiah Gluck

Executive producers: Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen