Gary Valente


Gary Valente is a jazz trombonist.

Early life

Valente was born on June 26, 1953, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He started playing the trombone as a young child, encouraged by his father, who played the same instrument. In the 1970s he studied at the New England Conservatory of Music, with Jaki Byard, and recorded with the conservatory's Jazz Repertory Orchestra.

Later life and career

Valente became a prominent figure in contemporary big band jazz, as a member of bands led by Carla Bley, Lester Bowie, Chico O'Farrill, and George Russell. He has also played in a diverse range of smaller groups, including those led by Don Byron, Cab Calloway, Charlie Haden, Joe Lovano, and Andy Sheppard.
As a leader, he had a small band with tenor saxophonist Bob Hanlon in the late 1980s and co-founded Slideride with other trombonists in 1994. At the end of the 1990s he led a quintet that featured Lew Soloff.

Discography

With Carla Bley
  • Social Studies
  • Live!
  • I Hate to Sing
  • Heavy Heart
  • Fleur Carnivore
  • The Very Big Carla Bley Band
  • Big Band Theory
  • The Carla Bley Big Band Goes to Church
  • 4x4
  • Looking for America
  • Appearing Nightly
With Lester Bowie
  • The Odyssey of Funk & Popular Music
  • When the Spirit Returns
With George Gruntz
  • Global Excellence
  • Tiger by the Tail
  • Pourquoi Pas? Why Not?
With Joe Lovano
  • Worlds
  • Viva Caruso
With Nick Mason
With Arturo O'Farrill
With Chico O'Farrill
  • Heart of a Legend
  • Carambola
With Ed Schuller
  • Life Cycle
  • The Eleventh Hour
  • To Know Where One Is
  • The Force
With Andy Sheppard
  • Soft on the Inside
  • Rhythm Method
  • Delivery Suite
With others