CO-FOUDER/ DIRECTOR SAXOPHONIST DAVID VALDEZ

David Valdez - Saxophonist – Composer – Jazz Educator David Valdez is an accomplished American saxophonist with over 50 years of experience in performance and jazz education. A full-scholarship graduate of the renowned Berklee College of Music, David Valdez has built a respected career across international jazz stages and academic institutions. He has performed at major festivals such as the Monterey Jazz Festival (USA), the North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands), and iconic venues including Blue Note, Birdland, and Smalls in New York City. His musical voice blends influences from bebop, Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban, and bossa nova traditions. Alongside his performance career, David is a passionate educator. He has taught at universities and led international jazz workshops, earning praise for his unique teaching style that merges classical technique with modern improvisational creativity. His professional blog, Casa Valdez Studios, is a globally respected resource for saxophonists and jazz students alike. In recent years, David Valdez has turned his artistic attention to Asian music and culture, with a special interest in Vietnam. He is eager to explore Vietnamese traditional music, collaborate with local musicians, and create new works that fuse jazz with indigenous sounds — offering a contemporary expression rooted in rich cultural heritage.