Jessica Valiente is a flutist, recorderist, bandleader, and scholar. A conservatory-trained classical musician with an interest in early music, her career ultimately led her to jazz improvisation, Latin music, and performance in a variety of global styles. She specializes in Cuban charanga, Brazilian choro, Latin jazz, and straight-ahead jazz. She performs on a variety of traditional flutes and historical flutes. She holds a BA in music from Barnard College in conjunction with Manhattan School of Music, an MA in music performance from the Aaron Copland School of Music (Queens College), and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the CUNY Graduate Center. She made her career in Latin music as the musical director of the veteran Latin jazz ensemble, Los Mas Valientes, which she has led since 1995. A passionate expert on charangas, she formed her own ensemble, Anaïsa, featuring members of Los Mas Valientes alongside her grown children—Miguel, Analisa, and Daphne—in a dynamic string section. Her doctoral research on charangas in New York City earned her an American Association of University Women Dissertation Fellowship. An esteemed charanga scholar and performer, she has since published influential articles and leads workshops and lectures across the US, sharing her deep expertise in charanga history and Latin flute improvisation.
