Grammy winning jazz flutist Dave Valentin has passed away at the age of 64.
Valentin's manager, Richie Bonilla, told the New York Times he passed Wednesday following complications from a stroke and Parkinson's Disease.
The Recording Academy released a statement, highlighting Valentin's achievements and expressing their condolences:
Dave Valentin was a dedicated flautist and innovator of crossover jazz. Under the mentorship of Hubert Laws, the New York native developed a signature sound by combining the influences of R&B, pop, and Brazilian music to create a specialized form of Latin jazz. After his recording debut with Ricardo Marrero's group, he went on to collaborate and perform with Tito Puente, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Bill O'Connell, and Dave Samuels, among others. In 2002 he teamed with Samuels for the Caribbean Jazz Project album The Gathering, which won a GRAMMY® for Best Latin Jazz Album. His 2005 album World On A String and 2011 album Pure Imagination each received Latin GRAMMY nominations for Best Latin Jazz Album. Our thoughts go out to Dave's family, friends, and fellow colleagues.