WRVR Jazz NY – Dave Valentin

WRVR featured some great Latin Jazz and crossover Latin artists. Flautist Dave Valentin was part of the regular rotation and was equally adept playing traditional jazz as he was performing his unique salsa inspired originals and covers. I first heard Valentin featured on Angela Bofill’s debut album Angie on GRP Records, the label that best represented the “RVR sound with artists such as Bofill and Valentin, as well as Earl Klugh, Lee Ritenour, Michael Brecker, Gary Burton, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea, Eddie Daniels, Mercer Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan, The Rippingtons, Arturo Sandoval, and Diane Schuur, and made extensive use of the emerging technology of digital recording.

Angie and David were close friends which led to Bofill’s introduction to GRP founders Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen by Valentin, and several memorable collaborations. Listen to how Valentin’s flute complements Angie’s plaintive soprano on “The Only Thing I Would Wish For” from Angie and “Can’t Change My Heart” from Dave’s 1986 album Light Struck.

Valentin put his stamp on the Beatles classic, “Blackbird”, from his 1979 album The Hawk. This up-tempo version has an infectious vibe that transforms the mood of the original.

Closing the set with Valentine’s smooth rendition of the Mongo Santamaria composition “Afro-Blue” from Valentine’s 1978 release Legends on Arista Records.

Who’s Better Than You?

We are all the same

We are all different

In sameness lies

understanding and empathy

Let differences fuel curiosity

Not suspicion and fear

But, don’t beat me over the head

With those differences

You are more than a penis

or a pussy

your sexuality

does not define you

Diversity

is not a license

for fascism

you are, I am

made up of thoughts, and ideas, and conflicting feelings

Respect mine

Though we may be at odds

And I will defend the freedom

For us to fly

our freak flags

side-by-side

WRVR Jazz NY – Citizens for Jazz

While Salsa Meets Jazz was an immensely popular musical series at The Village Gate in NYC, Jazz and litigation was not a successful mix for the Citizens for Jazz on WRVR who petitioned against the FCC in 1985 “to deny the application of Riverside Broadcasting Company, Inc. (“Riverside”) for a radio broadcasting license renewal.” The petition illustrates the passion fans had for their station, and the depth of betrayal they felt when Viacom pulled the plug on jazz programming. The misrepresentation of intent and broken promises by the new ownership are well documented in the opening statements.

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* On July 24, 1978, Viacom International, Inc. (“Viacom”) and the former owner of Riverside, Sonderling Broadcasting Corporation (“Sonderling”), filed with the Commission an application to transfer the control of Riverside from Sonderling to Viacom. In that application, Viacom stated that it would continue the station’s jazz format, under which approximately sixty percent of the air time was devoted to jazz music. The application was granted on November 28, 1979, and transfer was effected on March 25, 1980. Just under six months later, on September 8, 1980, the entertainment format of the station was changed from jazz to country-and-western music.

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Unfortunately, the petition which was argued on Sept. 17, 1985 was quickly denied on Oct. 29, 1985 and did not force the station to reinstate jazz programming. The full petition can be viewed here:

Citizens for Jazz on WRVR