|
Vital
Information Welcomes New Member,
Guitarist Vinny Valentino!
Vital Information introduced Vinny Valentino
as its new guitarist at Yoshi's Jazz Club in Oakland, CA, this past
July. A talented guitarist and composer, Vinny has joined Vital
Information for touring and an upcoming new recording.
Here are some photos from the Yoshi's show
(click photos to enlarge):
|
Click
here to see Steve's tour dates with Jazz Legacy, Vital
Information, Summit, and Soulbop! |
Vinny began touring in a progressive rock
band while still in high school. At age 16, influenced by the music of
George Benson, he began pursuing jazz as a career. He recalls, "The
turning point for me was hearing George Benson in concert; I had never
heard anybody play like that. It was an eye-opening experience."
Vinny and his mentor George have since
developed a close friendship. George Benson refers to Vinny as a "young
genius with brilliant tone and fresh ideas."
Vinny earned his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies at Howard University.
He has shared the stage or recording studio with such jazz greats as:
Gary Bartz, Randy Brecker, Bill Evans, John Pattitucci, Richard Bona,
Bob Moses, George Benson, Steve Gadd, Dennis Chambers, and Jimmy
McGriff.
Of course,
Vinny is no stranger to Vital Information and its fans...
In the Autumn of 2004, Vinny filled in at
the last minute for longtime Vital Information guitarist Frank Gambale
on a European tour. Frank had been called away just two weeks before the
tour began on an urgent family matter.
Frank and saxophonist Bill Evans both
recommended Vinny for the tour, who was on tour in Siberia at the time
and learned the Vital Information tunes on overnight train rides in
Russia! He did an excellent job playing the music on the four-week
tour, injecting his own unique personality into the group’s sound.
After 18 years of Frank being an integral
member of Vital Information, Frank Gambale has left the band in order to
spend more time developing his solo career. Frank had been getting
busier and busier with his own music; it was a natural time for him to
break out on his own. The group wishes him well with his solo career.
Click
here to see a retrospective of Frank's 18 years with VI.
 Vinny was the logical choice to step in on
guitar and bring new energy and ideas to the band. Vital Information
bandleader Steve Smith says, “We are all thrilled that Vinny has joined
the group. He is a world class improviser and composer, swings hard, has
a beautiful sound and is super funky.”
Click
here to go to
Vinny's web site.
--
Go to page 5 -- |
