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Showing posts from November, 2008

WILFREDO STEPHENSON- AN ENSEMBLE OF SALSA PERCUSSION

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Wilfredo Stephenson for Amigo from 1982. I think this has had more requests for a repost than any other album at O.I.R. since I last posted it in September 06.So I've ripped it again but at 320 this time. Keeping the Percussion theme here's a great piece of wax from Europe-Sweden to be precise-recorded in 1981 for Amigo Records.Those of you who are on the case will know that Wilfredo Stephenson was the percussion wiz behind Hot Salsa but for this outing he recorded under his own name ,wrote all bar two of the compositions and used some of the Hot Salsa line up as well as Tobjorn Langborn,Carlos Leon,Per Cussion etc. This is a pretty rare lp that has many great tunes but the standout tune is "Aire para respirar" that starts like a massive batucada but goes into a lovely uplifting, vocal fusion tune -big out on the floor back in the day.It's a terrific album and it proves shows the Swedish CAN play great latin music.Actually thinking about it I'm pretty sure I r

CAL TJADER AT GRACE CATHEDRAL

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Cal Tjader for Fantasy from 1977. Bass - Rob Fisher Congas - Poncho Sanchez Drums - Pete Riso Electric Piano - Lonnie Hewitt Vibraphone, Timbales - Cal Tjader Review lifted from allaboutjazz: Tjader's The Grace Cathedral Concert (released on LP as Fantasy 9521) is much more of a jazz performance than Guaraldi's. It's a typical mid 70s program for the virbraphonist featuring such staples as "I Showed Them," Milt Jackson's "Bluesology" (with "Bag's Groove" quotes), a Black Orpheus medley dedicated to former Tjader pianist Vince Guaraldi, the standard "Body and Soul" and Tjader's "Theme" (based on "Freddie Freeloader"). The quintet works well together. Hewitt's subtle use of the electric piano is a nice foil to Tjader's vibes and doesn't sound nearly as dated as one might expect. Tjader puts his heart and swing into the performance, sustaining tones almost on que. Each member of the quintet is

THE MODERN SOUND OF BOBBY PAUNETTO

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Bobby Paunetto for Mardi Gras from late 60s. Dusty Groove: One of our favorite Latin jazz albums ever -- and a truly amazing record! Bobby Pauntteo, aka Bobby Vince Paunetto, is probably best known for his groundbreaking Latin fusion albums of the NuYorican era -- but this rare gem from the 60s shows that he was a really forward thinker, even at a younger age! The sound is incredibly hard to define -- a blend of modal jazz, Latin rhythms, and a uniquely lyrical approach to the percussion that makes the record take off to places you'd never expect. Bobby's conception is mindblowing from start to finish -- and the record's even got some wonderful tracks that feature English vocals on top of the hip vibes-driven sound of the instrumentation. A gem throughout -- and the kind of record we'll take to the grave!

GUANABARA - ON THE MOVE

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Guanabara for Baystate Japan from 1984. This one's for Greg. Steve Sacks-Saxes,Flute;Cyro Baptiste-Percussion;Alfredo Cardim-Rhodes,Piano;Duduca Fonseca-Drums;Dennis Irwin-Bass;Claudio Roditi-Trumpet,Trombone;David Sacks-Trombone. From the sleeve notes: Great Music has the power to make us forget the places where we are and where we come from.We of Guanabara feel the power in the music of Charlie Parker,Antonio Carlos Jobim and the others who inspire us.At the same time there are special places which themselves have the power to move us to make music.We dedicate this record to the music and mystery of these places in both of our native countries-Brazil and America. Dusty Groove(used copy-out of stock): A sweet set of Brazilian jazz tunes played by a warmly soulful group that includes Claudio Roditi on trumpet, Steve Sacks on saxes, Cyro Baptista on percussion, and Alfredo Cardim on acoustic and electric piano. The feel is very nice- nicer even than the group's first album with

FRANK HERNANDEZ Y SU ORQUESTRA - EL PAVO

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Frank Hernandez for Souvenir Venezuela from 1965. Another banging latin session this time from Venezuela and bursting with mambos and descargas fit to set the wax on fire.Nearest comparison would be Tito's 60s Tico sessions which is high praise indeed! All Killer No Filler!!!!

SUPER ALL STAR

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Super All Star for Caiman from 1984. Paquito Pastor Piano/Juan Márquez Guitarra/Tito Puente Timbales y vibrafono/Paquito D'Rivera Saxofones altos y flauta/Mario Rivera Saxofones tenores, Baritones y piccolo/"Chocolate" Armenteros Trompeta/Valery Ponomorev Trompeta/Spanky Davis Trompeta/José Rodrigues Trombones/Claudio Roditi Trombones/Steve Turre Trombones/Andy Gonzalez Bajo/Daniel Ponce Conga/Ignacio Berroa Bateria/Adalberto Santiago Coro/Felo Barrios Coro/Leo Gonzalez Coro Super All Star indeed-check that line up!!! Slamming salsa one-off big band session from a group that comfortably straddled both latin and jazz genres to produce this explosive set.The brass charts are phenomenal harking back to the days of Rene Hernandes' work with Machito's Orchestra, and seem set to blow the speakers out at some points.Rock solid rhythm section (with congacero virtuoso Daniel Ponce fresh out of Cuba)featuring such luminaries as Tito Puente,Ignacio Berroa and Andy Gonzalez w

CONRAD HERWIG - THE LATIN SIDE OF JOHN COLTRANE

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Conrad Herwig for Astor Place from 1996. Keeping it latin but coming from a different angle. Features the mighty Eddie Palmieri on three cuts.Check out neverenoughrhodes for a terrific overview of Eddie's recording career. Here's a great write up from the wonderful Doug Payne-check his excellent soundinsites here A great idea beautifully executed by New York trombonist Conrad Herwig. The trombonist/arranger/musical director chooses Coltrane's most accessible material from a period that arguably spawned his best, most memorable work (1958-1964), devised simple, exploratory frameworks for each (recalling veteran Chico O'Farrill), then assembled an outstanding collection of musicians. In addition to Herwig's sinewy trombone, there's Brian Lynch on trumpet, Dave Valentin on flutes, Ronnie Cuber on baritone, Richie Beirach (who contributed to some of the arrangements), Danilo Perez and Eddie Palmeri on piano, Andy Gonzalez (from the Fort Apache Band) on bass and Mil

AGUABELLA - HITTING HARD!!

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Francisco Aguabella for Epsilon from 1977. Super tough latin business featuring the 500mph destruction of Edu Lobo's "Casa Fuerte" - murder!!! Review half inched from Latin Beat: As a sworn "olu batá" drummer, Francisco Aguabella is revered asa Santería drum priest, a master of tradition. But in the '60s he was also Peggy Lee's favorite conga drummer and toured the country with her band. Since coming to the U.S. in 1957, the Matanzas-born Cuban drummer has been a pivotal force, incorporating traditional Afro-Cuban folkloric sounds into American pop and jazz. A former member of the Latin rock band Malo, Aguabella is in his prime on this reissue of his 1977 Epsilon Records album (his second asa leader). Hitting Hard is street-style rare groove fusing Brazilian, salsa, Latin jazz, and funk flavors with a cast that includes San Francisco vibist Nerio De Gracia, the dynamic Cedric Deon Bi on vocals, and percussion great Armando Peraza. Ramón's Desire kic

EDDIE PALMIERI WITH HARLEM RIVER DRIVE - LIVE AT SING SING

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Eddie Palmieri for Tico from 1972 More essential listening-very highly recommended. Eddie Palmieri - Piano* Charlie Palmieri - Organ*Ronnie Cuber - Saxophone*Cornell Dupree - Guitar* Joe Gaines - M.C.* Andy Gonzalez - Bass* Ismael Quintana - Vocals, Choir, Chorus* Raymond Maldonado - Trumpet* Nicky Marrero - Bongos* Charlie Santiago - Timbales* Ray Romero - Conga* Felipe Luciano - Voice* Jimmy Norman - Vocals* Harlem River Drive Singers with Lorene Hanchard - Vocals* Alvin Taylor - Vocals* Harry Viggiano - Guitar* Jerry González - Percussion* Hank Anderson - Guitar (Bass)* José Papo Rodríguez - Trombone* Arturo Campa - Vocals *Arturo Franquiz - Vocals Review nicked from musthear.com: Before the heyday of Salsa, Eddie Palmieri functioned as a path-breaking phenomena from Puerto Rico. His lingering influence on Latin music cannot be overstated. This album perfectly combines Palmieri’s experimentalism with the heavy rhythms that kept him ahead on the street. Playing for the toughest of cr

EDDIE PALMIERI - SENTIDO

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Eddie Palmieri for Mango from 1973. Bass - Andy Gonzalez,Bongos - Nicky Marrero , Tommy Lopez,Congas - Frankie Malabe , Jerry González,Coro - Arturo Campa , Jimmy Sabater , Willie Torres,Drums - Paul Alicea , Rick Marotta,Flute, Saxophone - Mario Rivera, Piano - Eddie Palmieri,Timbales,Percussion - Nicky Marrero,Tres, Guitar - Harry Viggiano,Trombone - Barry Rogers , Jose Rodriguez,Trumpet - Vitin Paz Vocals - Ismael Quintana Essential listening-Very Highly Recommended. For the last 40 years Eddie Palmieri has enriched Latin music with his imagination. It is difficult to say he had one good year above all others because Palmieri has improved with each recording, an indication that he hasn't reached his peak. I'm not surprised that others are envious of him. Many dancers say that he is the best. Many say that he is the sun of Latin music, the most powerful in the world. He is reverentially referred to as the Messiah but I see him as Latin music's leading astronaut gliding in

JOHN THOMAS & LIFEFORCE - 3000 WORLDS

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John Thomas & Life Force for Nabel from 1981. Bass - Gunnar Plümer Drums - Garcia Morales Guitar - John Thomas Percussion - Eddy Veldmann , Ponda O'Bryan Piano - Andy Lumpp Vocal(Like a Samba)-Monika Linges Hard to track down piece of kraut latin fusion best known for the storming dance floor filler "Like A Samba" which was comped on the first Glucklich compilation from Rainer Truby.Check out "Promontory" - speed samba for the nifty of foot! Here's a bit more about Mr Thomas from jazz.com Appearing with some of the greatest names in jazz, his professional gigs since 1972 include the AACM Big Band, Stanton Davis, Carter Jefferson, Andrew Cyrille, Kenny Drew, John Lewis, Harold Ousley, and Chet Baker. Additionally, he has performed as a regular sideman with Jimmy McGriff and Joe Henderson here in the United States. Although only 19 at the time, both Henderson and McGriff enlisted his services as a sideman on recordings and concerts. After his 1977 move to

HENRY BUTLER - THE VILLAGE

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Henry Butler for Impulse from 1987. This one's for Greg and his Orange and Black Spines . Henry Butler-Piano;Ron Carter-Bass;Jack DeJohnette-Drums;John Purcell-Soprano,Flute,Oboe,English Horn;Alvin Batiste-Clarinet;Bob Stuart-Tuba Henry Butler's second Impulse recording is essentially a post-bop performance. The influence of the pianist's New Orleans heritage (which is partly felt on his version of Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer") and gospel music would be explored more fully in the future. Butler is joined by bassist Ron Carter, drummer Jack DeJohnette and occasionally by clarinetist Alvin Batiste, John Purcell (on soprano, flute, oboe and English horn) and (for "The Entertainer") Bob Stewart on tuba. Butler sings "Music Came," but essentially this is an advanced trio set that shows how fine a pianist he is. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide Check out Butler's first for Impulse "Fivin' Around" at the excellent blackclassic

GIORGIO AZZOLINI - TRIBUTE TO SOMEONE

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Giorgi Azzolini for Ciao!Ragazzi from 1964. Franco Ambrosetti - trumpet Gato Barbieri - tenor sax Dino Piana - trombone Pocho Gatti - piano Renato Sellani - piano Lionello Bionda - drums Giorgio Azzolini - acoustic bass. What better way to start a Sunday than this great serving of pasta jazz from Italy! From the liner notes: A record that is not like many others. In recent times there have been quite a few jazz recordings in Italy, but each of theme is the result of a great amount of work and very careful selection. Maybe that is the reason why every new jazz record may be considered different from the others. This one , which I'm proud to present, is the result of the desire, the planning and the direction of Giorgio Azzolini, a well-known Italian double-bass jazz player and one of the most passionate supporters of this kind of music. Born in La Spezia on 29-3-28, Giorgio Azzolini studied in Florence with maestro Antonio Godoli and built up his profile within the jazz circuit than

THE AFRO LATIN SOULTET - WILD!

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The Afro Latin Soultet featuring Phil Moore for Tower from 196? A frenetic latin banger with the emphasis on heavy percussion.Check "The Sheik" for a latin-modal romp through a thinly disguised "Impressions". Liner Notes: Wild it´s called and wild they are! And so was everyone in San Juan where they made these recordings. Mardi Gras was swinging and everyone was swaying with the mood. But that spirit is with PHIL MOORE, III and the five other members of THE AFRO-LATIN SOULTET whenever and wherever they play. And there are MOISES OBLIGACION, conga drummer and ex-member of The Afro Blues Quintet; CHAUNCY LOCKE, trumpeter who stretches back to days with the famed Charlie Parker; VANCE MATLOCK, bass player formerly with Aretha Franklin; LEROY BROOKS, drummer of Curtis Amy fame; and JACK FULKS, the alto sax and flute man who played with Chico Hamilton and the Afro Blues Quintet and who co-composed three of the tunes in this album. Leader PHIL MOORE is, of course, the pi

JOE BONNER - IMPRESSIONS OF COPENHAGN

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Joe Bonner for Theresa from 1981. Personnel: Joseph Bonner (piano, chimes), Eddie Shu (trumpet), Gary Olson (trombone), Holly Hoffman (flute), Carol Michalowski, Peggy Sullivan (violin), Carol Garrett (viola), Beverly Woolery (cello), Paul Warburton (bass),J. Thomas Tilton (drums). Originally released by Theresa and reissued on CD by Evidence in 1992, this frequently exquisite set features the McCoy Tyner-inspired piano of Joe Bonner on four originals, Cal Massey's "Quiet Dawn," and (released for the first time on the CD) "Lush Life." Bonner and a rhythm section are joined by a string quartet, trumpet, trombone, and flutist Holly Hofmann (the leader provided the arrangements) for music that is both lyrical and often passionate. Bonner is an underrated talent, and this is one of his finest recordings. - Scott Yanow, All Music Guide