For decades the underground Miami Music

scene has established a reputation for

cultivating Latin, Jazz, and World Beat musical
genres, which grow naturally from the rich
cultural diversity of the region. The
combination of Afro-Cuban Latin rhythms
(using the Montuno blueprint), abstract Jazz
improvisation, and earthy acoustic Flamenco
seasoning, are like a musical orgy of the senses.
Miami-based guitarist and producer, Stefan
Vale, has embraced all of these influences in his
newly released 8th album, entitled “DUO”,
which he recorded almost entirely from his
home recording studio during the worldwide
lockdown of 2020-2022.
Spending much of his time in insolation, Vale composed
both new music and re-arranged popular cover compositions
to such classics as “Concierto de Aranjuez” (Joaquín
Rodrigo), “Spain” & “Armandos Rhumba” (Chick Corea),
“Manha de Carnaval” (Luiz Bonfá), “Besame Mucho”
(Consuelo Velazquez), “Oblivion” (Astor Piazzolla) and
others. Inspired by the musical duo of pianist Michel Camilo
& guitarist Tomatito, and also the guitar trio of Paco de
Lucia, John McLaughlin, and Al Di Meola, Vale partnered
with several talented international musicians to record tracks
virtually, from various parts of the world, which Vale put
altogether in Miami. The new album (“DUO”) is a collection
of duets (Guitar/Piano and Guitar/Guitar), demonstrating
how two instruments are enough to produce a complete
band, when you’re using creative masterful improvisation.
Vale’s guitar technique is truly unique, as he enlists
intricately arpeggiated chord patterns, Salsa Montunos, and A multifaceted artist: musician, dancer,
Rumba Flamenco Triplets as the foundation of the song, author, playwright, and filmmaker, Vale
seasoned with Flamenco Tremelos, Jazz phrasings, and explains how it all fits together, and what has
blazing fast emotionally textured solos - reminiscent of a motivated him to do it all. Vale: “My greatest
Soul or Gospel music singer. musical influence when I was growing up was
Prince, because he demonstrated how an artist
can wear multiple hats and be in control of his
(or her) career. I started out as a Pop music
musician, then Salsa dancer, then a freelance
writer, author, then back to being a musician,
filmmaker, playwright… and now I’m doing
everything. Becoming a Salsa dancer helped
me greatly with understanding the connection
between rhythm, movement and passion, as
Salsa dancing is the vertical expression of the
horizontal desire” 2
After migrating to Miami in 1990 from New York City, Vale has performed live at such iconic venues as
the Olympia Theater at Gusman Center Miami, Carnaval Miami, and the Miami Art Basel festival. His
music has been nominated for several Indie Music Awards and has been featured on several Latin Jazz
radio programs at 88.9 FM WDNA and WLRN Miami. Vale: “What makes my music special is you can
always hear the Latin influence inside of it, regardless of what genre I’m playing. Sometimes it’s subtle,
while other times it’s blatantly obvious, as I’ll typically use Montunos to give it a little sabor (flavor)”.

The following sheet music Am

demonstrates how to play

Montunos over a Am, GM,
FM chord progression

GM FM

3
CONTINUED

These patterns should be played in tempo with the song’s beat count. Typically, Montunos work best
on songs in a 4/4 beat count, which are used in Rumba Flamenco and Latin Jazz compositions.

GEAR:
Stefan Vale plays Cordoba Espanola guitars, D’Adddario Pro Arte nylon strings (hard tension),
Neumann KM184 microphones, and records with the Apogee Duet-2 digital interface, Warm Audio
WA12 MK11 discrete microphone pre-amp, and Logic Pro digital audio workstation on a MacBook Pro.

DISCOGRAPHY:

For more information visit Stefan Vale’s official website: www.StefanVale.com 4