Draft:Vinny Valentino

• Comment: Possibly notable - it is covered by WaPost Gheus (talk) 15:23, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

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Vinny Valentino
Born	Virginia, United States
Genres	Jazz, jazz fusion, progressive rock
Occupation(s)	Guitarist, composer, educator, arranger, producer
Instrument	Guitar
Years active	1970s–present
Labels	All My Voices Music
Website	vinny.com

Vinny Valentino is an American jazz guitarist, composer, educator, arranger, and producer known for his work in jazz and jazz fusion. Born in Virginia, he has performed with artists such as George Benson, Dennis Chambers, Gary Bartz, and John Patitucci, and is a member of Steve Smith's jazz fusion group Vital Information. His album The Distance Between Two Lines (1993) received positive reviews, including maintaining the #2 spot for 14 weeks on the R&R jazz radio chart.

Early life and education

Valentino began playing guitar at age six and toured with a progressive rock band during high school. At 16, a George Benson concert inspired him to pursue jazz. He studied at Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University before earning a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Howard University.

Career

Early career and solo work

Valentino released his debut solo album, Vinny Valentino, in 1988. His international debut, The Distance Between Two Lines (1993), was praised for its compositions. His follow-up, Now and Again (1996), featured collaborations with saxophonist Gary Bartz and arrangements of jazz standards like Thelonious Monk's "I Mean You." Vintage Guitar Magazine described him as a "skilled jazz player with strong compositional abilities."

Vital Information and collaborations

In 2006, Valentino joined Steve Smith's Vital Information, replacing Frank Gambale. He contributed to albums including Vitalization (2007) and Viewpoint (2015). He also performed with the collective organ trio Groove Blue, alongside Hammond B3 organist Tony Monaco. Valentino has collaborated with artists like Chick Corea, Steve Gadd, and Randy Brecker, and opened for Ramsey Lewis and Paco de Lucia. He arranged and co-composed for vocalist Mark Murphy's album Slidin'.

Educator and innovator

Valentino has served as an Artist in Residence at institutions worldwide, leading masterclasses at venues like Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London. He created Play Along Tunes, a platform offering play-along tracks for musicians. He performed early live internet concerts and offers online lessons. Valentino endorses D'Angelico Guitars, D'Addario strings, Cakewalk Sonar, Izotope, Zoom Corp, TKL Cases and Graph Tech's ghost pickup system.

Health challenges

In 2020, while performing at Catalina's Jazz Club in Los Angeles, Valentino suffered a cryptogenic and ischemic stroke, causing aphasia and, most significantly, the loss of his ability to play guitar. With medical support and rehabilitation techniques, he resumed performing within a year and continues to recover.

Discography

Solo albums

• Vinny Valentino (1988)
• The Distance Between Two Lines (1993)
• Now and Again (1996)
• Dial It In (2012)
• Double B Double V (with Baron Browne)

With Vital Information

• Vitalization (2007)
• One Great Night (2012)
• Viewpoint (2015)

Collaborative albums

• Groove Blue (2016, as part of the Groove Blue organ trio)
• Live at The Cafe Japone (1996)
• Rudolph Valentino (1998, with Steve Rudolph, co-produced by George Benson)
• VRB (2018, with Joel Rosenblatt and Baron Browne)

External links

• Official website
• Play Along Tunes
• 7 Minute Guitar
• Vinny Valentino discography at Discogs