Flutist Dave Valentin Dies at 64

Dave Valentin, a versatile, affable and adroit flutist who worked with artists including Chick Corea, Paquito D’Rivera, Eliane Elias, Dave Grusin, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente and McCoy Tyner, and who released more than 20 albums as a leader in a variety of Latin and Latin-fusion settings, died on March 8 at a rehabilitation and care facility in New York. He was 64, and had been inactive since a stroke in 2012 and subsequent cardiovascular events.

Valentin recorded for the GRP, Concord and HighNote labels, served as Tito Puente’s musical director for several years and won a Grammy Award with Caribbean Jazz Project for its 2002 album, The Gathering.