Born: March 12, 1965 Primary Instrument: Drums
Vinson Valega grew up in a musical family near Washington, D.C., studying classical piano from age seven until switching to the drums when he was 12. He played drums for three years in the All-County Jazz Ensemble during high school and subsequently held the drum chair in the University of Pennsylvania Big Band during college.
After graduating from UPENN with a B.A. in Economics, Vinson came to New York City in the early 90's to study music at the New School in Manhattan, where he studied with Marvin “Smitty” Smith (of The Tonight Show Band) and Norm Freeman (of the New York Philharmonic).
Vinson has performed in many clubs in the New York Metropolitan area, including the Blue Note, Smoke, The Jazz Gallery, 55 Bar, Birdland, Smalls, Cornelia Street Cafe, Cleopatra's Needle, and Trumpets of Montclair, NJ. An avid composer, Vinson also teaches privately and served on the staff of the Stanford Jazz Workshop in California from 1999-2001. He has toured throughout North America and Europe with his groups and others, and he appears on Matthew Fries' CD, Song For Today (TCB) and the Ganz Brother's release, First Steps (Extravaganza). Vinson also has four CDs out as a leader, “Live@147, Consilience, Awake, and Biophilia.
In addition, Vinson has also worked with or played alongside with many of the great musicians in jazz, such as Grover Washington, Jr., Dakota Staton, Clarke Terry, James Williams, Donald Brown, Harold Mabern, Jr., Jamil Nasser, Ron McClure, Bob Mintzer, Russell Malone, Peter Bernstein, Mark Turner, Terrel Stafford, Eric Alexander, Jim Rotundi, David Hazeltine, Joel Frahm, Dena DeRose, and Vincent Herring, among others.
“Valega's website indicates deeper intentions of progressive activism and open communication on political topics, though the swinging music is in no way didactic.” ~~~ Philadelphia Daily News, 6/7/07
“Valega is a spectacular drummer, delivering just what each track needs without over-powering or taking center stage at the expense of musicality. He is obviously much more than a drummer. He is a composer, able to invent interesting and engaging melodies and harmonies which provide the perfect vehicle for extended improvisations. He is a band leader with the considerable skills to know how to pick the musicians that will make his music as effective as possible.” ~~~ Dave Miele, Jazz Improv Magazine, October 2007
Biophilia
Record Label - Consilience Productions
Year Released - 2010
Tracks:
1) I Knew You'd Say That (Matthew Fries)
2) Sunset and the Mockingbird (Duke Ellington)
3) A Moment of Silence (Vinson Valega)
4) Biophilia (Vinson Valega)
5) Let (Mark Miller)
6-7) Day by Day with Kathelin Gray (Cahn/Stordahl/Weston/Ornette Coleman)
8) I Just Wanted to See What You Look Like(Vinson Valega)
9) Charm (Vinson Valega)
10) November Spring (Nicki Denner)
11) Always (Irving Berlin)
12) Talk Time (Chris Bacas)
13) Strange (Vinson Valega)
14) Think of One (Thelonious Monk)
15) Doesn't It Feel Great to Be Alive? (Vinson Valega)
Personnel:
Vinson Valega (drums); Anton Denner (alto saxophone & flute); Chris Bacas (tenor & soprano saxophones); Mark Miller (trombone); Matthew Fries (piano); Gary Wang (bass)
Awake
Record Label - Consilience Productions
Year Released - 2006
Tracks:
1) Luftmenschen (Anton Denner)
2) Awake (Vinson Valega)
3) Fog (Sheryl Bailey)
4) This is What Democracy Sounds Like [Part I](Vinson Valega)
5) Undertow (Josh Ginsburg)
6) Ed Blackwell (Vinson Valega)
7) This is What Democracy Sounds Like [Part II](Vinson Valega)
8) Stacked Sienna (Vinson Valega)
9) Sputnik (Chris Bacas)
10) This is What Democracy Sounds Like [Part III](Vinson Valega)
11) The Trend is Your Friend (Vinson Valega)
12) Take Time for Love (James Williams)
Personnel:
Vinson Valega (drums); Anton Denner (alto saxophone & piccolo); Chris Bacas (tenor & soprano saxophones and clarinet); Terell Stafford (trumpet); Jon Cowherd (piano); Josh Ginsburg (bass)
Consilience
Record Label - Consilience Productions
Year Released - 2003
Tracks:
1) Jiminy Cricket Goes To The Go-Go Dance (Vinson Valega)
2) The Best Thing For You Would Be Me (Irving Berlin)
3) You're Nearer (Rogers & Hart)
4) Stumble Monk (Vinson Valega)
5) Tide Pools (Anton Denner)
6) Long & Wrong (Vinson Valega)
7) Blood Count (Billy Strayhorn)
8) Black Fire (Andrew Hill)
9) New Haven (Anton Denner)
10) Fuggedaboutit (Anton Denner)
11) Jiminy Cricket Goes To The Go-Go Dance(Reprise)
12) You Must Believe In Spring (Michel LeGrand)
13) Secret Love (Fain & Webster)
Personnel:
Vinson Valega (drums); Anton Denner (alto & soprano saxophones; flute); Gary Wang (bass)
Live@147
Record Label - Consilience Productions
Year Released - 1998
Tracks:
1) The Sermon (Hampton Hawes)
2) Poinciana (Bernier & Simon)
3) I Just Wanted To See What You Look Like (Vinson Valega)
4) Hatteras Refection (Matthew Fries)
5) Dance Cadaverous (Wayne Shorter)
6) Without a Song (Youmans & Rose)
7) Send One Your Love (Stevie Wonder)
8) Polka Dots and Moonbeams (Van Heusen & Burke)
Personnel:
Vinson Valega (drums); Matthew Fries (piano); Greg Ryan (bass)
As A Side Musician
Song For Today
Matthew Fries
Record Label - TCB
Year Released - 2001
Tracks:
The Black Cat
The Riddle
Phineas (Donald Brown)
Cabbage Cafe
Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
Trey of Hearts (Thad Jones)
Retro (Song for Today)
Prelude/Karen at the Dance
Arioso (James Williams)
Lucky To Be Me (Leonard Bernstein)
Personnel:
Matthew Fries (piano); Vincent Herring (as); Bill Mobley (trmpt); Greg Ryan (bass); Vinson Valega (drums)
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Primary Instrument:
Drums
Location:
New York, NY
Willing to teach:
Advanced students only.
Credentials/Background:
Extensive teaching experience in a lesson environment, including three years on the staff of the Stanford Jazz Workshop, Palo Alto, California (1999-2001).
Rates vary.
