MASTER JAZZ IMPROVISERS. VIRTUOSOS. ONE PULSE.
The Art of Collaboration
There is something extraordinary that happens when Lannie Battistini and José Valentino make music together. At the core of their collaboration is a profound spiritual and musical connection—one built through years of friendship, faith, trust, and an instinctive understanding of one another. They do not rehearse. They listen, respond, and simply know. As they immerse themselves in melodic improvisation, each seems to anticipate where the other is going, yet the music remains wonderfully unpredictable. A phrase can turn, a rhythm can shift, a musical idea can appear without warning—Jazz Reinvented. It is this freedom, trust, and element of surprise that makes their musical conversations so compelling and leaves the listener wanting more.
That connection takes two distinctive forms: Johnny Vergara joins Battistini and Valentino on Keys to the Groove 2.0, while Derris Lee joins them on Unitas Vol. 1. Each brings his own remarkable musical voice and improvisations to the trio, creating two distinctly different experiences while preserving the extraordinary chemistry at their core. The result is musical alchemy—spontaneous, exhilarating, and impossible to predict.
- Neysa Rodriguez-Battistini
GRAMMY® Award-Winning Publicist & Marketing Strategist
Keys to the Groove 2.0
Pianist, composer and producer Lannie Battistini, comes together again with bassist José Valentino, and percussionist Johnny Vergara in a collaboration shaped by years of friendship, faith, artistic dialogue, and musical trust. Building on the original Keys to the Groove by Battistini and Valentino—which received the 2022 Global Music Award® for Best Latin Jazz—2.0 expands the musical conversation through Battistini’s lyrical compositions, Valentino’s melodic bass work, and Vergara’s expressive percussion. Much of the album unfolded without rehearsal, allowing deep listening, instinct, and trust to guide the performances. In 2026, Keys to the Groove 2.0 received two Global Music Awards®—Best Latin Jazz and Best Group—affirming what lies at the heart of the project: improvisation as conversation, groove as connection, and three distinctive musical voices moving as one.
Unitas Vol. 1
Produced and arranged by José Valentino, Unitas Vol. 1 is a musical statement about trust, brotherhood, faith, and artistic excellence forged through years of collaboration between José Valentino, Lannie Battistini, and Derris Aubrey Lee. Though representing different generations, cultural backgrounds, and professional journeys, the trio shares a musical relationship grounded in mutual respect, mentorship, spiritual purpose, and the joy of creating together. Rather than approaching the recording as a traditional leader-and-accompaniment format, Unitas embraces a musical conversation in which each artist contributes his distinctive voice. Valentino’s expansive role encompasses bass, multiple instruments, production, arranging, composition, and engineering; Battistini contributes piano, arranging, composition, and recording engineering; and Lee provides the rhythmic foundation on drums.
The repertoire moves between reimagined jazz standards, Latin repertoire, original compositions, and contemporary influences, reflecting the trio’s broad musical language through swing, Afro-Latin rhythms, lyricism, groove, and improvisation. Yet Unitas ultimately reaches beyond repertoire and virtuosity. Derived from the Latin word for “unity,” the title captures the spirit of three longtime collaborators finding common ground through friendship, faith, trust, culture, and music. More than a trio recording, Unitas Vol. 1 is an offering—a testament to the belief that excellence and humility can coexist, artistry deepens through brotherhood, and music has the power to unite across generations, cultures, and life experiences.
<Lannie Battistini is a pianist of staggering brilliance—a melodic storyteller with instinctive mastery whose artistry elevates every stage and studio he enters. A genius of touch, tone, and expression, his fearless yet refined improvisation reflects authority, soul, and deep musical instinct. A genre-crossing craftsman, he moves effortlessly through jazz, Latin jazz, neo-classical, R&B, and popular music. With 45+ years of international festivals, concerts, and award-winning recordings, Lannie is a 2× GRAMMY® Award winner, Latin GRAMMY® winner, Latin GRAMMY® nominee, and 14× Global Music Awards recipient, and Founder/CEO of Hands In Motion Music School & Productions in Tampa Bay.
José Valentino> is an internationally touring, cross-genre musical force—multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and scholar—with a career spanning thousands of festivals, concerts, and studio collaborations worldwide. Renowned for his electrifying improvisation, genre-bending compositions, and deep musical intelligence, he delivers performances that are both technically commanding and emotionally compelling on flute, saxophone, and bass. His extensive honors include EMMY®, GRAMMY®, Latin GRAMMY®, Global Music®, DownBeat®, Global Genius®, Anthem®, AVA Digital®, Davey®, Communicator®, Billboard®, and many others. José brings fire, imagination, and world-class musical architecture to the trio, completing a synergy that places these artists in a league of their own.
< Derris Lee is a dynamic, multidimensional artist whose work spans percussion, piano, marimba, composition, and production—uniting technical virtuosity with intellectual depth. His performances are marked by rhythmic precision, emotional clarity, and intentional phrasing, shaped by fearless creativity and refined discipline. As both composer and educator, Derris blends scholarly insight with creative fire, earning honors including a Latin GRAMMY® Award, multiple Global Music Awards, DownBeat® recognitions, and international distinctions. His presence adds power, intellect, and rhythmic architecture to the trio, anchoring the ensemble with world-class musicianship and spiritual sensitivity.
Johnny Vergara > is a gifted Panamanian percussionist, is widely regarded as a first-call percussionist for Latin jazz and tropical music throughout the United States, Central and South America. His performance is defined by his melodic feel, clarity, and forward motion. Drawing from Afro-diasporic rhythmic traditions, Vergara contributes not as ornamentation, but as breath—providing propulsion while honoring balance, texture, and collective groove.
Contact For Bookings, Information, Riders, Fees:
Neysa Rodriguez-Battistini
Artist Management | Publicity | Marketing Strategist Director
