Search - Dave Valentin :: Tropic Heat

ALL HAIL MR VALENTIN!!

Abbey | London United Kingdom | 03/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"D.V. plays the flute like you've never heard it before with flare and wild, scintilating, all consuming fire, typically UNASSOCIATED with the flute, but also with the tenderness you'd expect with an instrument associated with the calm and serene. The album is well named! On this album, which I feel is essentially latin jazz, he again demonstrates his mastery. By the end of the first track, you just KNOW this guy IS for real!!! I read once that the great Hubert Laws was once his tutor AND IT SHOWS, technically and imaginatively he's faultless. You never know what is coming next, but when you do hear, it'll suprise, tantelise and thoroughly please you. From the opening track to the last the melodies are wonderfully devised and imaginative, percussive timing crisp and tight. If you've never listened to latin flavoured jazz before, buy this album. This is how an instrument should be played!! I've seen D.V. live and he's even better!!! Can you believe that??!!!!"