Speakers Profile - James Valentine Quartet










Travels From:
Sydney

Fee Range: C


The name James Valentine should be familiar to most people in Australia. In a career spanning several decades, he's worked across many and various aspects of the media. While he's fondly remembered for a stint hosting ABC TV's The Afternoon Show back in the '80s, he's since made the move into radio, hosting a popular afternoon program for the ABC. On top of all that he's released several books and worked in television. And when he's not doing all that, he plays saxophone in his own quartet.

Valentine began his music career studying jazz in Melbourne before giving it up to play in several bands. During the first half of the '80s he collaborated with people like Joe Camilleri, Kate Ceberano, The Models, Absent Friends and Wendy Matthews. The music may be more of a side gig these days, but it's also Valentine's first love and something he takes seriously.

On that note, the quartet has a full repertoire of 1950's and 1960's classics ready to go. Valentine and friends aren't averse to throwing in a few modern day covers either. We're not sure how modern these re-appropriations might be, but a jazz cover of Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) would be nice.