NewUrbanJazz Radio to Offer Fundraising Concert for Latin Jazz Legend Dave Valentin | Nov. 7th, 2013

Fellow musicians and artists will donate their time, talent and resources to
perform a fundraiser for the Grammy Award winning artist. Net proceeds
will benefit the Bronx, NY native and said proceeds will assist in
medical bill payments and basic living needs as Valentin has not worked
any musical performances since suffering from a stroke on March 3, 2012.

“We
are very happy to have formed an alliance with other fellow musicians,
and we don’t take our musical gifts lightly. Any one of us could lose
use of our fingers to create music and a livelihood for ourselves or our
families. The unification of artists attending makes a huge statement
from the jazz and music community”, says Bob Baldwin, host of the
NewUrbanJazz Lounge.

NewUrbanJazz is a radio program that begun
in 2008 after CD101.9 went off the air and flipped music genres, leaving
a void for jazz music in the NY-Tristate. NUJ now airs on 30 stations,
20 states with over 453, 000 listeners weekly from Alabama to Alaska and
everywhere in between.

The event is co-sponsored by Family
Resource Center in Peekskill, NY, who felt a strong need to raise the
awareness of the symptoms stemming from a stroke.

“We wish to
make this a nationwide campaign to raise money for Dave. We ask that
musicians and fans from all over the world purchase a ticket, even if
they cannot attend and that list will be delivered to Dave Valentin to
show their support of his artistry, with the hope of encouraging him to
return to top performance form, ” says Baldwin.

Look for dynamic
performances by Valentin sideman, including Pianist Bill O’Connell,
Bassist Lincoln Goines, and Drummer Robby Ameen, who performed on
several of Dave’s 15 cd’s.

On March 3, 2012, Latin Jazz Flutist
and Grammy Award Winner, Mr. Dave Valentin, suffered a stroke that has
limited his ability to perform his beloved instrument. The native New
Yorker has been in physical therapy since that tragic day. There is a
chance that he may be able to wow his audiences on stage worldwide
again, but not before he’s the beneficiary of some more critical
physical therapy.

In the interim, his medical bills have
climbing been through the roof. Dave Valentin has insufficient medical
insurance to cover the enormous bills surrounding his stroke.

Joining the party are
Bill O’Connell (Piano)
Lincoln Goines (bass)
Robby Ameen (Drums)
Ragan Whiteside (Flute)
Gilberto “Pulpo” Colon (Piano)
Bob Baldwin (Piano/Keyboards)

Just added:
Chieli Minucci (guitar)
Dave Samuels (Vibes)
Mayra Casales (Percussion)
Eddie Montalvo (Percussion)
Bobby Sanabria (Drums/Percussion)
Richie Morales (Percussion)

About Dave Valentin

Dave Valentin (born April 29, 1952, in New York City) is a jazz flutist.

He learned latin percussion first when he was a teenager, and then
switched to flute. Valentin’s teacher, the legendary Hubert Laws,
suggested that he not double on saxophone because of his attractive
sound on the flute. He studied at the Bronx Community College.

In
1977, he made his recording debut with Ricardo Marrero’s group and he
appeared also on a Noel Pointer album. Discovered by Dave Grusin and
Larry Rosen, Valentin was the first artist signed to GRP Records, and he
has been a popular attraction ever since. Valentin has recorded over 15
albums, combining the influence of pop, R&B and Brazilian music
with Latin and contemporary jazz to create a slick and accessible form
of crossover jazz.

In 2000, he appeared in the documentary film,
Calie 54, performing with Tito Puente. He toured with El Negro and
MioSotis. Since the mid-2000s, Valentin has been signed to Highnote
Records, releasing World On A String (2005) and Come Fly With Me(2006).
He has done several collaborations with pianist Bill O’Connell, and was a
Grammy Award winner for his Caribbean Jazz Project in the early 2000’s
with Dave Samuels as well as a Latin Grammy Award nominee in 2006.

In 2012, he suffered a stroke following a performance at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis, In.

BOB BALDWIN BIO

Bob Baldwin is a New York-born and bred artist who has been producing
records since the 80’s, including his works with George Benson, Grover
Washington, Jr., Michael Urbaniak, Will Downing, Pieces of a Dream
Marion Meadows. He’s recorded with Chuck Loeb, Gerald Albright, Paul
Brown, Paul Taylor, Chieli Minucci, Glenn Jones, Noel Pointer, Freddie
Jackson, Howard Hewitt, to name a select few, and has performed with
Dave Valentin on several occasions over the years.

The pianist
has done benefits for Haiti for the American Red Cross (“Jazz For Haiti”
with Dave Valentin, Chieli Minucci, Ragan Whiteside) as well as
“Westchester Musicians for Haiti”.

He’s released his 20th disc, simply titled, “Twenty”. He’s recorded more solo discs than any other Westchester County native.

“It’s an honor to help my musical buddy Dave Valentin out on this
event. He’s helped so many others over the years, so it’s only fair and
just to him to return the favor”, says the Westchester native.

NewUrbanJazz and Family Resource Center are the sponsors of the event.