CHICO HAMILTON Introducing LARRY CORYELL — The Dealer (1967) Two Version (1990, MCA Records – MCAD-39137) + (1999, RM | Serie Impulse! Master Sessions) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Drummer Chico Hamilton introduced many top young players during his years as a bandleader, but few probably realize that Larry Coryell made his recording debut with Chico a year before joining Gary Burton's quartet. The Dealer marks Coryell's initial appearance on record, and at times he sounded oddly like Chuck Berry (especially on "The Dealer"). Also heard on this set are altoist Arnie Lawrence, bassist Richard Davis, organist Ernie Hayes (on two numbers), and, on his spirited boogaloo "For Mods Only," Archie Shepp making a rare appearance on piano. Most of the performances still sound surprisingly fresh, especially the explorative "A Trip," making this an underrated but worthy release. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. The Dealer 6:20
 Jimmy Cheatham / Chico Hamilton
2. For Mods Only 4:24
 Archie Shepp
3. A Trip 6:35
 Jimmy Cheatham / Chico Hamilton
4. Baby, You Know 3:55
 Jimmy Cheatham / Chico Hamilton
5. Larry Of Arabia 5:08
 Larry Coryell
6. Thoughts 6:28
 Chico Hamilton
7. Jim-Jeannie 5:45
 Chico Hamilton
– CD-BONUS TRACK –
8    Chic Chic Chico 2:49
 Manny Albam
9    Big Noise From Winnetka 2:49
 Bob Crosby, Bob Haggart, Gil Rodin, Ray Bauduc
10    The Second Time Around 3:12
Written-By – Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn
11    El Toro    3:12
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Arnie Lawrence (tracks: 1 to 4, 6, 7)
Arranged By – Jimmy Cheatham (tracks: 1, 4)
Bass – Albert Stinson (tracks: 8, 10, 11), Richard Davis (tracks: 1 to 7)
Cowbell – Willie Bobo (tracks: 9)
Drums, Percussion – Chico Hamilton
Flute – Charles Lloyd (tracks: 8, 11)
Guitar – Gabor Szabo (tracks: 8, 10, 11), Larry Coryell (tracks: 1 to 7)
Maracas – Willie Bobo (tracks: 8)
Organ – Ernie Hayes (tracks: 4, 5)
Percussion – George Bohanon (tracks: 11)
Percussion, Tambourine – Unknown Artist (tracks: 7)
Piano – Archie Shepp (tracks: 2)
Tenor Saxophone – Charles Lloyd (tracks: 10), Jimmy Woods (tracks: 8)
Trombone – George Bohanon (tracks: 10)
Vocals – Albert Stinson (tracks: 8), Chico Hamilton (tracks: 6)

CAL TJADER — Black Orchid (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This CD has all of the music originally on the two LPs Cal Tjader Goes Latin and The Cal Tjader Quintet. Since each album had two sessions apiece, the CD does a fine job of giving one a sampling of the influential vibraphonist's popular Latin jazz groups of the era. Among the key sideman are flutist Paul Horn; Jose "Chombo" Silva on tenor; pianists Lonnie Hewitt, Vince Guaraldi, and Manuel Duran; and Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo on percussion. The music (a mixture of Latinized standards and newer originals) is quite appealing, showing why this infectious blending of bop with Latin rhythms has always been one of the most accessible styles of jazz. Scott Yanow
Tracklist  :
1    Mi China 2:15
Mongo Santamaría
2    Close Your Eyes 3:11
Bernice Petkere
3    Mambo at the "M" 4:39
Luis Kant
4    Contigo 2:40
Pedro Flores
5    Bonita 2:28
Lonnie Hewitt
6    The Lady Is a Tramp 4:32
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
7    Black Orchid 3:23
Cal Tjader
8    Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe :44
Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
9    I've Waited So Long 2:07
Jerry Lordan
10    Out of Nowhere 3:26
Johnny Green / Edward Heyman
11    Cuajira at the Blackhawk 5:20
Mongo Santamaría
12    I Want to Be Happy 3:15
Irving Caesar / Vincent Youmans
13    The Nearness of You 3:54
Hoagy Carmichael / Ned Washington
14    Pete Kelly's Blues 3:48
Sammy Cahn / Ray Heindorf
15    A Minor Goof 3:53
Brew Moore
16    Undecided 3:23
Sydney Robin / Charlie Shavers
17    Philadelphia Mambo 3:20
Tito Puente
18    Flamingo 4:12
Edmund Anderson / Ted Grouya
19    Stompin' at the Savoy 4:00
Benny Goodman / Andy Razaf / Edgar Sampson / Chick Webb
20    Laura 3:21
Johnny Mercer / David Raksin
21    Lullaby of Birdland 4:00
George Shearing / George David Weiss
Credits :
José "Chombo" Silva (Saxophone)
Paul Horn (Flute)
Vince Guaraldi, Lonnie Hewitt, Manuel Duran (Piano)
Eugene Wright, Carlos Duran,  Al McKibbon (Bass)
Willie Bobo (Drums, Timbales)
Luis Kant, Mongo Santamaria, Luis Miranda (Conga Drums)
Bayardo Velarde (Timbales)

OLIVER NELSON — Skull Session (1975-2002) RM | RCA Victor Gold Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Skull Session is hardly up to snuff for the talented and overworked Nelson, who was busy scoring TV shows at the time. The title track is a fun little dabble in electronic funk, but the rest seems beneath Nelson's abilities, as it takes his signature sounds, adds disco, dumbs down the themes, and finishes it off with pedestrian solos from L.A. studio musicians. Douglas Payne  Tracklist & Credits :

CLARK TERRY - Mumbles (1966) lp | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Clark Terry launched his "Mumbles" routine (where he delivered semi-coherent vocals interspersed with scat) with two numbers on a studio date for Verve led by Oscar Peterson; this Mainstream LP finds him expanding the concept to album length, with mixed success. Unfortunately, the effort becomes a little too commercial, not only de-emphasizing the jazz element to focus on the vocals, but adding lackluster songs like "Big Spender." Although multi-reed player Jerome Richardson, bassists George Duvivier or Richard Davis, and drummer Grady Tate are on hand, the arrangements by Joe Cain (who also composed three forgettable originals and co-wrote "Rum and Mumbles" with the leader) don't really give the musicians a chance to shine. Although Terry has continued his now familiar routine into his eighties, it is better heard in small doses, so this long unavailable record is likely to be of more interest to the most fanatical collectors of Clark Terry's music. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     The Mumbler Strikes Again 3'07
Clark Terry
2     Big Spender  2'29
Cy Coleman / Dorothy Fields
3     Rum and Mumbles 2'50
Joe Cain / Clark Terry
4     The Shadow of Your Smile 2'19
Johnny Mandel / Paul Francis Webster
5     Mumbles 2'42
Clark Terry
6     Grand Dad's Blues 3'52
Clark Terry
7     The Cat from Cadiz 4'35
Joe Cain
8     Never 3'37
Clark Terry
9     I'm Beginning to See the Light 2'34
Duke Ellington / Don George / Johnny Hodges / Harry James
10     Night Song 2'40
Lee Adams / Charles Strouse
11     El Blues Latino 3'07
Joe Cain
Credits :
Bass – George Duvivier, Richard Davis
Bongos – Jose Mangual
Congas – Willie Bobo
Drums – Grady Tate
Guitar – Eric Gale, Vinnie Bell
Percussion – Phil Kraus
Piano, Organ – Frank Anderson
Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Flute, Piccolo Flute – Jerome Richardson
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Clark Terry

GRANT GREEN - The Latin Bit (1962-2007) RVG Edition | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Grant Green, being known mainly as a soul jazz guitarist, eventually gravitated into the popular boogaloo sound. The Latin Bit is the natural bridge to that next phase, though a bit premature for most in 1961-1963, even relative to the subsequent bossa nova craze. Pianist Johnny Acea, long an underrated jazzman, is the nucleus of this session, grounding it with witty chops, chordal comping, and rhythmic meat. The Latino rhythm section of drummer Willie Bobo and conga player Carlos "Patato" Valdes personify authentic, seasoned spice, while at times the chekere sound of Garvin Masseaux makes the soup too thick. At its collective best, the group presents a steady, serene, and steamy "Besame Mucho" and the patient, slow, slinky, sultry "Tico Tico." Just a small step below is a classy take on Charlie Parker's "My Little Suede Shoes," a premier jazz bebop (emphasis) tune with a Latin undertow and Green's tiniest staccato phrases, slightly marred by the overbearing constant chekere, but still classic. "Mama Inez" ranks high for its calypso-infused happy feeling and wry stop-start lines. The straight-ahead hard bopper "Brazil" and lone soul-jazz tune, "Blues for Juanita," display the single-note acumen that made Green's style instantly recognizable. This date always yielded mixed results for staunch fans of Green, but it remains a credible effort, even if slightly flawed in part. [Some reissues add two selections with pianist Sonny Clark and tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec, the latter of whom plays hip secondary harmonies on the bossa nova-flavored "Granada," but is in the complete background and a non-factor on the pop tune "Hey There."] Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1 Mambo Inn 5:48
Written-By – Woodlon, Sampson, Bauza
2 Besame Mucho 7:09
Written-By – C. Velasquez, S. Skylar
3 Mama Inez 6:38
Written-By – E. Grenet, L. Gilbert
4 Brazil 4:59
Written-By – A. Barroso, S. K. Russell
5 Tico Tico 7:42
Written-By – Jose Abreu
6 My Little Suede Shoes 6:21
Written-By – Charlie Parker
7 Blues For Jaunita 7:02
Written-By – Grant Green
8 Grenada 6:23
Written-By – Augustin Lara
9 Hey There 7:24
Written-By – J. Ross, R. Adler
Credits :
Bass – Wendell Marshall
Congas – Carlos "Patato" Valdes
Drums – Willie Bobo
Guitar – Grant Green
Percussion [Checkere] – Garvin Masseaux (tracks: 1 to 6)
Piano – Johnny Acea (tracks: 1 to 7), Sonny Clark (tracks: 8, 9)
Recorded By, Remastered By [2007] – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Ike Quebec (tracks: 8, 9)
Notes
Tracks 1-6 originally issued in 1963 as Blue Note BST 84111.
Tracks 7-9 originally issued in 1996 on the first CD edition of this album. Bonus tracks, not part of original LP

GABOR SZABO - Spellbinder (1966-1998) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Released just six months after Gypsy '66, Gabor Szabo's second album as a leader (after leaving a sublime Chico Hamilton band that also included Charles Lloyd) remains one of his finest moments in the studio. Szabo utilized the tales of bassist Ron Carter and his old boss Hamilton on drums, as well as a pair of fine Latin percussionists -- Willie Bobo and Victor Pantoja. The groove quotient was very high on Spellbinder, maybe even higher than on later albums such as Jazz Raga or Sorcerer. This set is all Szabo, drifting, wafting, and soaring above all that rhythm; the track selection provides ample space for Szabo's highly individualized Eastern modal style to shine. The set opens with the title track, a snaky guitar masterpiece with plenty of droning strings and pinched chords that are followed by open string flourishes. Carter holds the entire band together as Hamilton plays in counterpoint to the percussionists. This is followed with two nuggets from the pop book of the day, the Coleman/Leigh classic "Witchcraft" and "It Was a Very Good Year." From the performances here, it's apparent that Szabo was deeply influenced by singers, and Frank Sinatra was at his pinnacle during this time. There's the emerging '60s psychedelic sound in Szabo's playing, but it is underlaid with bossa rhythms and swells. These tracks, while flavored with Latin and pop stylings, are gorgeous guitar jazz. Szabo gets back into his own mystic thang with "Gypsy Queen" (the opening droning moments of which the Doors lifted entirely for "The End"). Here the Latin rhythms and guitar go head to head, point to counterpoint. A pronounced yet elusive melody line propels a series of polyrhythms forward into an abyss of melody, mode, and frighteningly intense legato phrasing, leaving the listener breathless. He takes the edge off with Sonny Bono's "Bang Bang (She Shot Me Down)." Szabo sings here in his plaintive Hungarian-inflected English, and the tune becomes something other than a pop song, but a tome on despair and loss. The funky "Cheetah" follows with gorgeous arpeggios, pointedly turning into chords of distinction as Hamilton rides the crash cymbal into territories unknown and double-times the band until it notches up the intensity. This set follows with one more Szabo original ("Yearning") and a trio of standards, with a heartbreakingly beautiful read of "My Foolish Heart" and a medley of "Autumn Leaves" and "Speak to Me of Love." Szabo's read on jazz in the '60s was brilliant. He embodied all of its most popular aspirations with a genuine spirit of innovation and adventure. Spellbinder is a masterpiece.     
|> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <|
Tracklist:
1 Spellbinder  5:30
Gabor Szabo
2 Witchcraft  4:39  
Cy Coleman / Carolyn Leigh
3 It Was a Very Good Year  2:47
Ervin Drake
4 Gypsy Queen  5:13
Gabor Szabo
5 Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)  2:28
Sonny Bono
6 Cheetah  4:10
Gabor Szabo
7 My Foolish Heart  5:28
Ned Washington / Victor Young
8 Yearning  2:59
Gabor Szabo
9 Autumn Leaves/Speak to Me of Love  3:35
Joseph Kosma / Johnny Mercer / Jacques Prévert
Credits
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Chico Hamilton
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Gabor Szabo
Percussion [Latin] – Victor Pantoja, Willie Bobo 

MONGO SANTAMARIA - Our Man In Havana (1960-1993) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The two records that make up Our Man in Havana (the other date was originally called Bembe) were recorded in 1960 during a visit to Cuba by Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo. The first set is superb, featuring an unusual mixture of instruments for a Cuban band: two trumpets, flute, piano, tres (Nino Rivera), bass, timbales, bongos, guiro, conga, and two vocalists. The playing by the local musicians is of high quality, and the ten selections are quite enjoyable. Unfortunately though, that project is combined with the cuts from Bembe, which are in a very different style. The latter project has the music performed entirely by vocalists, other than the percussion of Santamaria and Bobo. Consisting of folk melodies and religious songs, with the emphasis totally on the chanting and singing, the music is intriguing from a historical standpoint but the jazz content is nil on this emotional date (which has Merceditas Valdes taking the vocal on four numbers). So, overall, this is definitely a mixed bag. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
Our Man In Havana (1960)
1     Jamaicuba 3:27
Esther Cruz Alvarez
2     Manila 4:42
Mongo Santamaria
3     He Guapacha 4:08
Mongo Santamaria
4     Cha Cha Rock 3:47
Mongo Santamaria
5     Vengan Pollos 4:59
Mongo Santamaria
6     Barandanga 3:16
Armando Peraza
7     Linda Guajira 3:08
Mongo Santamaria
8     Vamos a Gozar 2:34
Mongo Santamaria
9     Miss Patti Cha Cha 4:15
Mongo Santamaria
10     Viva la Felicidad 2:31
Mongo Santamaria
Mongo In Havana Bembé! (1960)
11     Tele Mina for Chango (God of Thunder) 3:00
Mongo Santamaria
12     Olla de for Olla (Wife of Chango) 3:48
Mongo Santamaria
13     Yemaya Olodo for Olla (Mother of Chango) 3:33
Mongo Santamaria
14     Yeye-O for Ochun (Counterpart of Venus) 4:10
Mongo Santamaria
15     Wolenche for Chango (God of Thunder) 2:47
Mongo Santamaria
16     Aqua Limpia (Guaguanco) 3:10
Francisco Aguabella
17     Ochun Mene (Columbia) 4:10
Mongo Santamaria
18     Mexico 3:20
Mongo Santamaria
19     Mañana Son Mañana (Columbia) 4:09
Mongo Santamaria
20     Complicaciones (Guaguanco) 3:47
Francisco Aguabella
Credits :
Bass – Pepito (faixas: 1 to 10)
Bongos, Triangle – Yeyito (faixas: 1 to 10)
Congas – Mongo Santamaria
Flute – Julio (9) (faixas: 1 to 10)
Guiro – Gustavito (faixas: 1 to 10)
Piano – Pacquito (faixas: 1 to 10)
Remastered By – Phil De Lancie
Timbales, Bongos – Willie Bobo (faixas: 1 to 20)
Tres, Arranged By [Arrangements] – Niño Rivera (faixas: 1 to 10)
Trumpet – Armandito (faixas: 1 to 10), El Fine (faixas: 1 to 10)
Vocals – Armando Raymat, Carlos Embale (faixas: 16, 18 & 20), Cheo Junco (faixas: 1 to 10), Finco (faixas: 16 & 20), Luis Santamaria (faixas: 11 & 15), Macucho (faixas: 19), Mario Arenas (faixas: 18), Merceditas Valdes (faixas: 12 to 14, 17)
Nota :
Reissue of "Our Man In Havana" and "Mongo In Havana Bembé!" from 1960:
Fantasy F-8045 and 8055.

MONGO SANTAMARIA Y SU ORQUESTA - Sabroso! (1960-1993) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

At the time that Sabroso was recorded, Mongo Santamaria's group was essentially a charanga band with two trumpets added, a combination that works quite well. The group has superior playing by Jose "Chombo" Silva on both violin and tenor (helping "Para Ti" to become a classic), two little-known but talented trumpeters (Louis Valizan and Marcus Cabuto), the great flutist Rolando Lozano, pianist Rene Hernandez, bassist Victor Venegas, and Willie Bobo on drums. Pete Escovedo is one of the background singers as Rudi Calzado takes the lead on a few numbers but does not dominate. There are many fine individual moments on this joyous and infectious set.  by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. Que Meravilloso (Pachanga) 2:43
Written-By – Rudi Calzado
2; En La Felicidad (Charanga) 2:04
Written-By – Felix Legarreta
3. Pachanga Pá Ti (Pachanga) 2:21
Written-By – Anna Duran
4. Tulibamba (Charanga) 3:58
Written-By – Mongo Santamaria
5. Mambo De Cuco (Pachanga) 3:50
Written-By – Nicholas Martinez
6. El Bote (Descarga) 3:56
Written-By – Armando Peraza
7. Pito Pito (Mambo) 2:43
Written-By – Santamaria
8. Guaguanco Mania (Guaguanco) 2:30
Written-By – Santamaria
9. Ja, Ja-Ja (Charanga) 3:00
Written-By – Duran
10. Tula Hula (Pachanga) 2:36
Written-By – Peraza
11. Dimelo (Charanga) 2:32
Written-By – Legarreta
12. A La Luna Me Voy (Charanga) 3:05
Written-By – Miguel Hernandez Avila
13. Para Ti (Descarga) 6:02
Written-By – Santamaria
Credits :
Bass – Victor Venegas
Congas, Drums – Mongo Santamaria
Flute – Rolando Lozano
Piano – Renè "El Flaco" Hernandez
Timbales – Willie Bobo
Trumpet – Louis Valizán, Marcus Cabuto
Violin – José "Chombo" Silva, Felix "Pupi" Legarreta
Vocals – Bayardo Velarde, Pete Escovedo
Vocals [Solo] – Rudi Calzado

MONGO SANTAMARIA - At The Black Hawk (1962-1994) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Applying their famous two-fer philosophy to the digital era, Fantasy combines Mighty Mongo and Viva Mongo! on a single CD, showcasing two somewhat different slants on Mongo Santamaria's music during a period of exploration. Mighty Mongo leans more to Mongo's jazz side without sacrificing his Afro-Cuban rhythmic base, while Viva Mongo has a more distinctly ethnic Cuban sound with Rudy Calzado's solo vocals and the band's group chanting, Rolando Lozano's wooden flute riding playfully above the ensemble, and the traditional Cuban use of string counterlines. On Mighty Mongo, "Descarga at the Black Hawk" sets an especially tasty groove, with some timbales/congas/cymbals action on an extended vamp. Lozano shines in an extended flute solo on "Bacoso" before a scorcher of a percussion battle develops, while composer/pianist Joao Donato also doubles on trombone on "Sabor." Viva Mongo's highlights include "Las Guajiras," a relaxed spellbinder at a guajira tempo; "Merengue Changa," a stupefying merger of two different rhythmic feelings; and the appropriately titled "Mambo Terrifico." Jose "Chombo" Silva, the Cuban Stan Getz worshipper who also evokes Coleman Hawkins on occasion, careens pleasingly on both albums. Of the two, Viva Mongo is perhaps the more vital record, but it's a close call; both are vibrant expressions of Mongo's art. by Richard S. Ginell  
Tracklist :
1    Bluchanga 8:00
João Donato
2    Tenderly 4:04
Walter Gross / Jack Lawrence
3    Descarga at the Black Hawk 7:30
João Donato
4    Bacoso 8:54
Rolando Lozano / Cuco Martinez / Victor Venegas
5    Sabor 4:05
João Donato
6    All the Things You Are 4:57
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
7    Pachanga Twist 3:27
Mongo Santamaria
8    Las Guajiras 7:47
Mongo Santamaria
9    Para Ti 3:04
Mongo Santamaria
10    Body and Soul 5:40
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
11    Merengue Changa 3:48
Isaac Irzarry
12    Dulce Sueño 2:38
Jose Lozano
13    Mambo Terrifico 2:54
Jose Lozano
14    Close Your Eyes 5:43
Bernice Petkere
Credits :
Baritone Saxophone – Pat Patrick (tracks: 9)
Bass – Victor Venegas
Congas, Bongos – Mongo Santamaria
Flute – Rolando Lozano
Lead Vocals – Rudy Calzado
Percussion – Julito Collazo, Cuco Martinez (tracks: 7 to 14)
Piano – Rene "El Latigo" Hernandez (tracks: 7 to 14)
Piano, Trombone – João Donato
Tenor Saxophone, Violin – Jose "Chombo" Silva (tracks: 7 to 14)
Timbales – Cuco Martinez (tracks: 1 to 6), Willie Bobo
Violin – Pupi Legarreta

MONGO SANTAMARIA - Mongo's Greatest Hits (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is a excellent single-disc sampler of what Mongo Santamaria was like before "Watermelon Man" catapulted him into the charts. Some of the Fantasy tracks sound like the musicians were just off the boat from Havana, and are a bit primitive in contrast to the brassy Santamaria of the mid- to late '60s, but they have overwhelming charm. The revered "Afro-Blue" can be heard in its original, spooky, stripped-down form, and it would be hard for anyone to resist the voodoo spell that the ten-plus minute "Mazacote" conveys. Besides Santamaria himself, included among the world-class percussionists on this record are Willie Bobo and Armando Peraza. The CD version adds four tracks, including "Watermelon Man" from the Battle/Riverside period and an alternate take of "Para Ti."  by Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist :   
1     Afro Blue 3:55
Mongo Santamaria
2     Mi Novia 2:50
Alicia Correa
3     Linda Guajira 3:06
Mongo Santamaria
4     Pito Pito 2:43
Mongo Santamaria
5     Mazacote 10:38
Mongo Santamaria
6     Para Ti 3:01
Mongo Santamaria
7     Watermelon Man 2:20
Herbie Hancock
8     Manteca 5:25
Gil Fuller / Dizzy Gillespie
9     Sabroso 3:40
Mongo Santamaria
10     Conga Pa Gozar 4:05
Mongo Santamaria
11     Federico 3:25
Mongo Santamaria
12     Mi Guaguanco 4:35
Mongo Santamaria
13     Para Ti 6:02
Mongo Santamaria
14     Las Guajiras 7:44
Mongo Santamaria
Credits :
Featuring – The Mongo Santamaria Orchestra, Willie Bobo 

WILLIE BOBO - Bobo's Beat (1964-2003) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Willie Bobo pulled an impressive lineup for his debut as a leader, due in part to a profile gained from his work with Cal Tjader and Herbie Mann. Leading the brass section in this midsized group is trumpeter Clark Terry, who lends the necessary grit and fire, while Joe Farrell's burring tenor gives the record dynamic range. Though Bobo's percussion kit is displayed on the front, it's occasionally difficult to appreciate his playing on the record; he sounds bored and in the background during a trio of Brazilian crossover numbers (this was the year of Jazz Samba, after all), leaving organist Frank Anderson to flare his way playfully through his own "Bossa Nova in Blue." Bobo does finally allow himself some solo space at the end of "Capers," after several minutes of brilliant interplay between brass and reeds. The highlight comes with the group's interpretation of Freddie Hubbard's "Crisis," a slow-burning hard bop number with Bobo's timbales shuffle framing more excellent sectioning, with Farrell's tenor and an unnamed trombone positioned in counterpoint to Terry's trumpet. With none of the Latin fire solo features or pop crossover material often found on "Stereo Spectacular" LPs of the day, Bobo's Beat is a jazz fan's delight: great work from all the principles, and a steady sense of inter-relational talents sounding off in close harmony with each other. by John Bush    
Tracklist :
1     Bon Sueno 2:30
Frank Colon
2     Naked City Theme 2:17
Billy May
3     Felicidade 3:28
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
4     Bossa Nova in Blue 2:44
Frank Anderson
5     Boroquinho 4:30
Christopher Boscole
6     Crisis 5:15
Freddie Hubbard
7     Mi Fas y Recordar 3:56
Bill Salter
8     Capers 3:47
Tom McIntosh
9     Let Your Hair Down Blues 5:13
Frank Anderson
10     Trinidad 2:59
Teacho Wiltshire
11     Timbale Groove 2:45
Teacho Wiltshire
Credits :
Drums, Timbales – Willie Bobo
Organ, Piano – Frank Anderson
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Farrell
Trumpet – Clark Terry 

WILLIE BOBO - Juicy (1967-1998) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Willie Bobo's music is triangulated between Latin jazz (Mongo Santamaria's division; the percussionist first gained notice in Santamaria's band), what by the mid-'60s had come to be called soul-jazz, and good old-fashioned lounge-act kitsch. None of the three influences overwhelms the others on 1967's Juicy, although from the lubricious title and cover photo on down, there's a certain "swingin' at Hef's pad" vibe to the proceedings that makes this album of particular interest to latter-day hipsters. Most of the song selection consists of soul-jazz covers of popular hits of the day, from a funky take on Eddie Floyd's "Knock on Wood" to a bossa nova-fied version of Bob Crewe's "Music to Watch Girls By," but the real standouts are the small handful of band originals, particularly the fiery groove of the title track, on which Bobo's timbales get their hardest workout. The 1998 CD reissue includes a full half-dozen extras, mostly less-than-revelatory alternate takes and leftovers, but the restored full-length version of the swell "La Descarga del Bobo" is a nice touch. by Stewart Mason
Tracklist :
1     Knock on Wood 2:40
Steve Cropper / Eddie Floyd
2     Mating Call 3:03
Tadd Dameron / Bert Keyes
3     Mercy, Mercy, Mercy 2:33
Gail Levy / Vincent Levy / Joe Zawinul
4     Felicidad 3:17
Clarence "Frogman" Henry
5     La Descarga del Bobo 5:38
William Correa
6     Juicy 3:26
Mike Stoller
7     Ain't Too Proud to Beg 2:42
Eddie Holland / Norman Whitfield
8     Music to Watch Girls By 2:18
Sid Ramin
9     Dreams 3:24
Bobby Valentín
10     Dis-Advantages 2:01
Mitch Leigh
11     Roots 3:13
Sonny Henry
12     Shing-a-Ling Baby 3:04
William Correa / Bobby Valentín
13     Juicy - Alternative Take 2:19
Mike Stoller
14     Music to Watch Girls By 2:26
Sid Ramin
15     Dis-Advantages - Alternative Take 2:01
Mitch Leigh
16     Shing-a-Ling Baby - Alternative Take 3:36
William Correa / Bobby Valentín
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Bobby Brown
Cornet – Melvin Lastie
Guitar – Sonny Henry
Timbales, Vocals – Willie Bobo  

WILLIE BOBO - Bobo Motion (1967-2008) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Recorded and released in 1967, Bobo Motion is one of percussionist Willie Bobo's best-known recordings of the 1960s. The album is best-known for its version of the Sonny Henry nugget "Evil Ways" that Carlos Santana and his band made their own a couple of years later, but there's more to it than that. Since Bobo signed with Verve in 1965, he'd been releasing wily blends of hot Latin tunes, and soul-jazz interpretations of pop tunes of the day. His five previous albums for the label had all been variations on this theme. On the earlier ones, safer pop and easy tunes played with Bobo's trademark hand drum grooves won out over original material. Indeed, 1965's Spanish Grease and 1966's Uno, Dos,Tres 1-2-3 had featured one tune apiece that featured the cooking Afro-Cuban flavored jams he'd become known for, and the rest were either soul-jazz arrangements of Latin standards or "with it" pop tunes of the day (Afro-Cuban versions of the organ trio records that Blue Note was shoveling out by the truckload at the time). Bobo Motion, however, is a different animal. While there are no originals on the Bert Keyes/Sonny Henry-arranged set, the grooves are tighter and more sophisticated, and the drumming is mixed way up above an uncredited smaller combo playing horns, electric bass, and Henry' electric guitar. The tune selection is also weirder and reflects the range of Bobo' eclectic tastes, and turns more firmly toward jazz (unlike Juicy, the 1967 precursor to this set, which was pregnant with workouts of soul hits of the day). There are trad standards like "Tuxedo Junction," Neal Hefti's swinging "Cute," -- which was almost a Count Basie evergreen of the early '60s -- and a smoking blues-out read of Sonny Burke' "Black Coffee." That's not to say there are no pop tunes here, Henry's "Evil Ways" features Bobo's less than hip vocals but the tune itself is so steamy and strange in its minor-key articulations, and the groove is such a monster, it doesn't matter. The same goes for Arthur Sterling's "Ain't That Right," that becomes a whomping boogaloo with the triple-time congas, gourd shaker, and timbales atop a fluid electric guitar groove. The transformation of Joe Tex's "Show Me," into a Latin jazz tune is remarkable to say the least -- even if it keeps its funky soul feel (the horns are the melody line here, and Bobo plays all around them setting up a monster conguero groove). Bobo Motion ends with a brief but burning version of "La Bamba." Its traditional roots are all on display here as Bobo's congas drive the rhythms into overdrive. Forget the quaint version by Trini Lopez, this one gets it. Recommended.
(This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa')
Tracklist :
1     Up, Up & Away 1:57
Webb
2     Ain't That Right 2:37
Arthur Sterling
3     Midnight Sun 2:09
Lionel Hampton / Johnny Mercer
4     Cute 1:53
Neal Hefti
5     I Don't Know 2:34
Sonny Henry
6     Tuxedo Junction 2:17
Julian Dash / Buddy Feyne / Erskine Hawkins
7     Evil Ways 2:41
Sonny Henry
8     Show Me 2:16
Joe Tex
9     Black Coffee 2:44
Paul Francis Webster
10     Night Walk 3:07
Steve Huffsteter
11     La Bamba 2:08
Traditional
Credits :
Arranged By – Bert Keyes (faixas: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11), Sonny Henry (faixas: 2, 5, 7, 10)
Willie Bobo – Percussion, Timbales  

WILLIE BOBO - Tomorrow Is Here (1977-2012) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Willie Bobo's only LP for Blue Note came at a point well past the label's heyday, when crossover was its primary focus. Hence Tomorrow Is Here has a pronounced '70s R&B/funk feel, with synthesizers, envelope followers, electric pianos, guitars and occasional strings interwoven with Bobo's steady Latin congas, timbales and self-effacing vocals. But there are a few gems to be found here -- one in particular. The leadoff track "Suitcase Full Of Dreams" is a great, haunting, Latin-accented song about a journeyman musician's life on the road that should have become a standard but is now almost completely forgotten. Karma's Reggie Andrews sits in on keyboards to give the record its contemporary sound; the other participants are L.A. sessionmen. Bobo's engaging personality, the injected Latin element, and "Suitcase" are what makes this otherwise dated record come alive. by Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist :
1    Suitcase Full of Dreams 3:48
Milo Adamo / Gene Goe
2    Funk De Mambo 3:17
Reggie Andrews / Joe Blocker / Curtis Robertson, Jr.
3    Keep On Walking 4:28
Gino Vannelli
4    Dreamin' 5:08
Bernard Ighner
5    Wacky Tobacky (The Race) 2:58
William Cosby / Larry Farrow / Stuart Gardner
6    Can't Stay Down Too Long 3:29
Reggie Andrews
7    Time After Time 3:16
Jule Styne
8    Kojak Theme 3:33
William Goldenberg
9    A Little Tear 4:53
Eumir Deodato
Credits :
Arranged By – Larry Farrow (faixas: 1, 3, 9), Reggie Andrews (faixas: 2, 6, 7), Willie Bobo (faixas: 1, 4, 5, 8)
Bass – David Troncoso, Dean Cortez, Jim Hughart
Drums – Carlos Vega, Gary Denton, James Gadson, Jeff Porcaro
Guitar – Craig McMullen, Curtis Robinson, Jr., Dennis Budimir, John Cadrecha, Sidney Muldrow
Keyboards – David Garfield, Larry Farrow, Reggie Andrews
Percussion – Victor Pantoja
Reeds – Gary Herbig
Saxophone – Ernie Watts, Ray Pizzi
Trombone – George Bohanon, Thurman Green
Trumpet – Gary Grant, Nolan Smith, Ron King
Vocals – Bernard Ighner, Sandi Erwin

CAL TJADER - Cal Tjader's Latin Concert (1956-1991) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Latin Concert is a pretty good sampling of vibraphonist Cal Tjader's influential Latin jazz of the 1950s. With pianist Vince Guaraldi, bassist Al McKibbon, Willie Bobo on timbales and drums, and the congas of Mongo Santamaria, Tjader's impressive unit performs four of his catchy originals and two by Santamaria in addition to Latinized versions of "The Continental" and Ray Bryant's "Cubano Chant." This highly rhythmic music is hard to dislike. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Viva Cepeda 3:40
Cal Tjader
2     Mood for Milt 3:13
Cal Tjader
3     The Continental 3:40
Con Conrad / Herbert Magidson
4     Lucero 4:26
Cal Tjader
5     Tu Crees Que? 4:47
Mongo Santamaria
6     Mi Guaguanco 4:43
Mongo Santamaria
7     Cubano Chant 4:04
Ray Bryant
8     A Young Love 9:24
Cal Tjader
9     Theme 0:54
Cal Tjader
Credits :
Bass – Al McKibbon
Congas – Mongo Santamaria
Drums, Timbales – Willie Bobo
Piano – Vince Guaraldi
Remastered By – Phil De Lancie
Vibraphone – Cal Tjader 

CAL TJADER - Monterey Concerts (1959-1990) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This two-LP set is the definitive early Cal Tjader album and one of the high points of his career. For a Monterey concert that was considered a preview concert for the 1959 Monterey Jazz Festival, Tjader was teamed up with flutist and altoist Paul Horn, pianist Lonnie Hewitt, bassist Al McKibbon, Willie Bobo (on drums and timbales), and percussionist Mongo Santamaria. Their renditions of Latinized jazz tunes along with a few Latin originals practically define the idiom. Highlights include "Doxy," one of the earliest versions of Santamaria's "Afro Blue" (pre-dating John Coltrane's famous rendition by four years), "Love Me or Leave Me," and "A Night in Tunisia." Essential music for everyone's Latin jazz collection. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Doxy 8:48
Sonny Rollins
2     Afro Blue 6:33
Mongo Santamaria
3     Laura 5:19
Johnny Mercer / David Raksin
4     Walkin' With Wally 10:05
Lonnie Hewitt
5     We'll Be Together Again 5:11
Carl Fischer
6     'Round Midnight 6:06
Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams
7     Love Me or Leave Me 5:56
Walter Donaldson
8     Tu Crees Que 5:27
Mongo Santamaria
9     S.S. Groove 5:18
John Mosher
10     A Night in Tunisia 6:53
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli
11     Bess, You Is My Woman 4:10
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
12     Lover Come Back to Me 3:11
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
13     Tumbao 4:55
Cal Tjader
Credits :
Bass – Al McKibbon
Bongos, Percussion – Mongo Santamaria
Drums, Timbales – Willie Bobo
Flute – Paul Horn
Piano – Lonnie Hewitt
Vibraphone – Cal Tjader 

CAL TJADER - Latino com Cal Tjader (1962-1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Vibraphonist Cal Tjader is heard leading five different groups throughout this set, but the identities of the flutists, bassists, and pianists are less important than knowing that Tjader, Willie Bobo (on drums and timbales), and the great conga player Mongo Santamaria are on every selection. The music really cooks, with torrid percussion, inspired ensembles, and occasional solos from the sidemen (which sometimes include pianists Lonnie Hewitt or Vince Guaraldi, bassist Al McKibbon, and flutist Paul Horn). Highlights include Latinized versions of "Key Largo" and "September Song," "Night in Tunisia," "The Continental," and a definitive version of Santamaria's "Afro Blue." This is Latin jazz at its finest. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Manila [Live] 3:31
Mongo Santamaria
2     Key Largo 3:31
Benny Carter / Karl Suessdorf / Leah Worth
3     Tumbao [Live] 6:43
Cal Tjader
4     Bludan 3:05
Eddie Cano
5     Chispita 3:24
Eddie Cano
6     September Song [Live] 3:42
Maxwell Anderson / Kurt Weill
7     Cal's Pals 3:33
Eddie Cano
8     Para Ti [Live] 3:26
Mongo Santamaria
9     Mamblues [Live] 4:38
Cal Tjader
10     Afro Blue 6:32
Mongo Santamaria
11     Cuban Fantasy 6:30
Ray Bryant
12     Rezo 5:57
Mongo Santamaria
13     Mambo Terrifico 4:21
Jose Lozano
14     A Night in Tunisia 8:35
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli
15     The Continental 4:45
Con Conrad / Herb Magidson
Credits :
Bass – Al McKibbon (faixas: 10, 14), Eddie Coleman (faixas: 11, 15), Victor Venegas (faixas: 13, 15)
Congas – Mongo Santamaria
Flute – Paul Horn (faixas: 10), Rolando Lozano (faixas: 13, 15)
Piano – Lonnie Hewitt (faixas: 10-13, 15), Vince Guaraldi (faixas: 14)
Saxophone – Jose "Chombo" Silva (faixas: 14)
Timbales – Willie Bobo
Vibraphone – Cal Tjader

CAL TJADER - Soul Sauce (1964-1994) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Soul Sauce is one of the highlights from Tjader's catalog with its appealing mixture of mambo, samba, bolero, and boogaloo styles. Tjader's core band -- long-time piano player Lonnie Hewitt, drummer Johnny Rae and percussionist's Willie Bobo and Armanda PerazaÑ -- starts things off with a cooled down version of Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo's latin jazz classic "Guachi Guaro (Soul Sauce)". With the help of guitarist Kenny Burrell, trumpeter Donald Byrd, and tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath they offer up a lively version of Mongo Santamaria's "Afro Blue." Sticking to his music's "Mambo Without a Migraine" reputation, though, Tjader's musicians keep things fairly calm, especially on Latinized ballads such as Billy May's "Somewhere In the Night" and on midtempo swingers like "Tanya." On Soul Sauce Tjader had perfected a middle ground between the brisk, collegiate mambo of his early Fantasy records and the mood-heavy sound of Asian themed albums like Breeze From the East. In the process, he dodged the "Latin lounge" label with an album full of smart arrangements, subtly provocative vibe solos, and intricate percussion backing. by Stephen Cook  
Tracklist :
1 Soul Sauce 2:24
Dizzy Gillespie / Chano Pozo
Percussion – Willie Bobo
2 Afro-Blue 4:27
Mongo Santamaria
Bass – Bob Bushnell, Richard Davis
Drums – Grady Tate
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Heath
Trumpet – Donald Byrd
3 Pantano 3:35
Lonnie Hewitt
4 Somewhere In The Night 3:14
 Mack Gordon / Billy May / Josef Myrow / Milt Raskin
5 Maramoor Mambo 4:00
Armando Peraza
6 Tanya 5:28
Lonnie Hewitt
7 Leyte 5:18
Lonnie Hewitt / Cal Tjader
8 Spring Is Here 4:00
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
9 Joao 4:50
Clare Fischer
10 Soul Sauce (Guachi Guaro) 2:30
Dizzy Gillespie / Chano Pozo
11 Monkey Beams 5:40
12 Ming    8:39    
13 Mamblues 3:49
Credits:
Cal Tjader - vibraphone
Lonnie Hewitt - piano
Richard Davis (tracks 2, 11 & 12), John Hilliard (tracks 1, 3-10 & 13) - bass
Grady Tate (tracks 2, 11 & 12), Johnny Rae (tracks 1, 3-10 & 13) - drums (tracks 1, 3-10 & 13)
Willie Bobo, Armando Peraza, Alberto Valdes - percussion
Donald Byrd - trumpet (tracks 2, 11 & 12)
Jimmy Heath - tenor saxophone (tracks 2, 11 & 12)
Kenny Burrell - guitar (tracks 2, 11 & 12)
Bob Bushnell - electric bass (track 2) 

CAL TJADER - Black Hawk Nights (2000) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In the late '50s, Cal Tjader and his bands played lengthy engagements at the Black Hawk jazz club in San Francisco. This CD combines almost everything from two albums he recorded there in the late '50s: the entirety of A Night at the Blackhawk, and all songs save one from Live and Direct. This is on the mellow side for Tjader, even by the vibraphonist's standards; if A Night at the Blackhawk is low-energy, Live and Direct is positively sleepy. A Night at the Blackhawk employs an all-star sextet including Willie Bobo on drums, Mongo Santamaria on congas, and Vince Guaraldi on piano. Despite the presence of Bobo and Santamaria though, it's only in the Latin-Afro-Cuban mood about half the time. That's heard on the mambo version of "Stompin' at the Savoy," "I Love Paris," and Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night in Tunisia," the last of which is of course a natural for the Latin-jazz treatment; otherwise it's pretty inside, straight-ahead stuff. Although Live and Direct was billed to the Cal Tjader Quintet, it in fact usually features just a quartet of Tjader, Lonnie Hewitt on piano, Victor Venegas on bass, and Willie Bobo on drums. The leader doesn't even play on "My Romance," a showcase for Hewitt. Latin-Afro-Cuban-jazz fusion is barely evident on the laidback Live and Direct session, except for the high-spirited finale. Actually, the Live and Direct set is rather too much on the polite, even sleepy side: the kind of thing you'd put on to fall asleep to in the wee hours. The pace does pick up for Live and Direct's only Tjader original, "Raccoon Straits," and "Mambo Terrifico," the number that has Santamaria and Lozano on board. by Richie Unterberger 
Tracklist :
1     Stompin' at the Savoy 5:23
Benny Goodman / Andy Razaf / Edgar Sampson / Chick Webb
2     I Hadn't Anyone Till You 8:08
Ray Noble
3     Bill B. 12:05
Cal Tjader
4     Blue and Sentimental 3:05
Count Basie / Mack David / Jerry Livingston
5     I Love Paris 4:34
Cole Porter
6     A Night in Tunisia 9:15
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli
7     Autumn Leaves 8:40
Joseph Kosma / Johnny Mercer / Jacques Prévert
8     My Romance 5:11
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
9     Theme from the and the Beautiful 3:46
David Raksin
10     You Stepped Out of a Dream 5:30
Nacio Herb Brown / Gus Kahn
11     Raccoon Straits 6:19
Cal Tjader
12     Mambo Terrifico 4:23
Jose Lozano
Credits :
Bass – Al McKibbon (faixas: 1 to 6), Victor Venegas (faixas: 7 to 12)
Congas – Mongo Santamaria (faixas: 1 to 12)
Drums – Willie Bobo (faixas: 1 to 12)
Piano – Lonnie Hewitt (faixas: 7 to 12), Vince Guaraldi (faixas: 1 to 6)
Tenor Saxophone – Jose Silva (faixas: 1 to 6)
Timbales – Willie Bobo (faixas: 7 to 12)
Vibraphone – Cal Tjader
Note
Tracks 1 to 6 originally released as A Night At The Black Hawk (Fantasy 3283); tracks 7 to 12 on Live And Direct (Fantasy 3315)

IKE QUEBEC - Bossa Nova Soul Samba (1962-1996) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

With his thick, engaging sound and elegant romanticism, it only made sense for Ike Quebec to try his hand at the bossa nova boom Stan Getz kick-started in 1962, and that's what he did with Soul Samba. However, Quebec makes the session much more than mere bandwagon-jumping. He takes some chances with the repertoire and consciously adds a heavy blues inflection that makes Soul Samba one of the more unique interpretations of the bossa nova style. It's also one of the more sensuous, thanks in part to the combination of Quebec's natural tendencies and the soft, light style itself, but even more so with the extra bit of meat added via the blues. The music is warm and danceable, yet with a late-evening hush that's more suggestive of winding down and getting cozy with someone. Quebec's choices of material are never obvious -- the Brazilian selections do not include any Jobim standards, for one thing, and both Quebec and guitarist Kenny Burrell (absolutely stellar in support) contribute original material that ranks among the album's best performances (particularly Quebec's "Blue Samba" and Burrell's "Loie"). What's more, Quebec adapts some unlikely sources -- the traditional standard "Liebestraum" and the Dvorak theme "Goin' Home" -- into surprisingly effective samba pieces. The whole project is thoughtfully conceived and beautifully executed, treating bossa nova as a new means of personal expression, not just a fad to be cashed in on. Sadly, Soul Samba was Quebec's final album, but at least his career ended on a high note. Steve Huey
Tracklist:
1 Loie 3:10
Kenny Burrell
2 Lloro Tu Despedida 3:04
Aldo Cabral / John Camacho / Benedicto Lacerda
3 Goin' Home 5:42
Antonin Dvorák
4 Me 'N You 5:59
Ike Quebec
5 Liebestraum 3:47
Johannes Brahms
6 Shu Shu 3:31
Antonio Almeida / Ciro de Souza
7 Blue Samba 5:22
Ike Quebec
8 Favela 0:04
Joracy Camargo / Heckel Tavares
9 Linda Flor 3:27
Pedro Berrios / Henrique Vogeler
10 Loie [Alternate Take] 3:34
Kenny Burrell
11 Shu Shu [Alternate Take] 3:19
Antonio Almeida / Ciro de Souza
12 Favela [Alternate Take] 3:21
Joracy Camargo / Heckel Tavares
Credits:
Bass – Wendell Marshall
Drums – Willie Bobo
Engineer [Recording] – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Tenor Saxophone – Ike Quebec