For a journeyman musician like bassist Roberto Vally, who has been touring for 44 years, there’s nothing like that last flight home as the sun sets at the end of a concert tour. And for Vally, that trip home could be anywhere in the world his family resides: from West Africa to Norway, from France to his Los Angeles residence. The destination really doesn’t matter. What does is re-uniting with loved ones. Vally’s new Woodward Avenue Records single, “Last Flight Home,” which began collecting playlist adds on Monday (September 11), captures the evocative emotional journey through warm melody, rich harmony and a robust groove.
Vally’s traveling companions on “Last Flight Home” are his cowriters: two-time Grammy nominated pianist David Benoit and Jeff Carruthers (Paul Brown, Boney James, Dave Koz). The bass player produced the track that features his pliable and lyrical bass lines along with scatted vocalizations. The flight team is bolstered by lush tenor sax embellishments added to the chorus by Billboard chart-topping tenor saxophonist Jeff Ryan and a nimble acoustic piano solo from Benoit, a seminal contemporary jazz artist who has a long history of collaborating with Vally. Another frequent collaborator, two-time Grammy winner Paul Brown mixed the track.
More than a premier sideman and a first-call session player, Vally started writing songs for members of the contemporary jazz royalty who are his contemporaries. He’s penned Billboard number one hits for Brown, Bob James, Kirk Whalum and Richard Elliot. He’s also written tunes for Larry Carlton, Boney James, Rick Braun, Euge Groove, Carol Albert, Marion Meadows and Najee.