Stefani Valadez

Stefani Valadez offers a rich repertoire of soulful, romantic, enchanting melodies, including songs from many lands. A third generation musician, Valadez has an international following of fans who are thrilled by her deep, haunting voice and the wide range of musical and ethnic lore she incorporates into her performances. Valadez first learned to play guitar and discovered the beauty of harmony from her mother, a singer and pianist, and from Pete Seeger and the Greenwich Village blues locals. She traces her musical inspiration to diverse musicians, including Taj Mahal, Grace Slick, and Antonio Jobim. Her later interest in Celtic and international folk music led her to her first CD of World Music, Other Voices. Her latest CD is Ladino Alive, a collection of songs from the Sephardic cultures of the Mediterranean, which Valadez researched while living in Spain. They speak of a time of peace and a flowering of civilization when the cultures of the three great religions coexisted peacefully for 700 years. Valadez’s arrangements bring these ancient melodies, prayers and love songs into the present with sensual vocals, soulful ethnic drums and delicious harmonies. A compelling performer and arranger, she is also a sought-after studio producer. Valadez plays guitar, dulcimer and percussion.