mikeweil

Richard Wyands is still around and performing, AFAIK. Maybe someone on the board knows where he resides?

That may be caused by the pics I inserted - in case you have a newer version of WORD like mine it may cause problems with the formatting. I will e-mail you version without the pics, that should solve the problem. Changuito is Wilfredo Vicente's nickname! He was credited only on the Mosaic Anita O'Day box set. He also appears on cal's first Verve LP "In A Latin Bag" and the later "Plays The Music Of Mexico And Brazil" - with Cal he plays only congas, but he can play any Cuban percussion instrument - he is one of the masters, inventor of the Songo rhythm, founder of the band Los Van Van and the author of a great method on timbales playing. Use the album index at the end of the disco to identify the albums by their issue numbers. Yes I noticed that fade - thanks for clearing this up! I am a percussionist myself, and there is no way to play "Mambo at the M" with only Cal, Luis Kant, and Benny Velarde - there must have been another percussionist! .. too bad Benny can't remember. I listened again and tried to identify the playing style: It could be Armando Peraza. I can't think of any other bongo player from Cal's circle that played that way. But the focus is clearly on Luis Kant on this session, who wrote "Mambo at the M". During the conga solo on "Tumbao", both the cascara playing on the shells of the timbales and the hand-held cowbell (cencerro) of the bongo player are heard, as you noted. (If you have any questions about Cuban percussion terminology, ask them!) Maybe you ask Benny for a session with Luis Kant, Armando Peraza and himself, maybe it klicks .... Sad to hear Luis Kant passed away - he was a great conguero, very underrated. I will correct my disco according to your research and send you the new version. Good to hear Luis Miranda is still around - he was one of the greatest congueros ever!!!

You are correct on album & tunes titles (actually the tune is Now Hear My Meanin'). The personnel: Benny Bailey, Idrees Sulieman, Jimmy Deuchar, Ahmed Muvaffak Falay, Roger Guerin, Edmund Arnie (tp), Ake Persson, Nat Peck, Erich Kleinschuster, Raymond Katarsinsky, Keg Johnson (tb), Derek Humble (as), Karl Drevo, Ronnie Scott, Billy Mitchell (ts), Sahib Shihab (bars/fl), Francy Boland (p), Jimmy Woode (b), Kenny Clarke (d), Joe Harris, Fats Sadi (perc). Recorded January 25/26, 1963, Frankfurt, Germany. All correct, but one tune - A Ball For Othello - is from the session for the Kenny Clarke - Francy Boland Blue Note LP, with a different personnel.

Here are my comments, finally ..... burning the discs for my upcoming BFT 37 and our tax declaration keeps me busier than I thought. No peeking or whatever, just my memory. Track 1: already posted, positively identified. Love it!!! Track 2: The baritonist on this reminds me a little of Cecil Payne, but not enough to positively identify him. Or is this latter day Cecil? I don't know his last few albums; if it is him, he's not in peak form - he usually displays more ideas. Nice jumpy rhythm section, must be a relatively new recording, judging by the bass sound. Three stars overall. Track 3: This has a sparing piano intro and then a brass burstout making me think of standard Basie formulas. Did Charlie Fowlkes ever take a solo? He reportedly was a good soloist - like the one here. Others are no slouches either. I wouldn't be surprised if this was in the Basie Clef Mosaic, which I still have not gotten far into - shame on me! Hmm .... the tenors don't sound like the two Franks Wess & Foster. And the pianist ..... Basie formulas, buit not necessary the Basie band .... I'm not sure. Good track - 4 1/2 stars. Track 4: Cool white guys, eh .... Mulligan would be much too easy a guess, although this is similar. I'd say it's not him. Nice, but not quite my cup of tea. Track 5: This player really digs in, like Pepper Adams, but it's not quite his sound, but he's pretty close - Gary Smulyan? I have three of his discs, but am too lazy to compare. Track 6: Very nice and energetic - love the Monkish touches in the theme, but have no idea. Another 4 1/2 star track. Track 7: From the bop era - reminds me of the Winding session with Mulligan ..... but I could be totally mislead here. Track 8: "Centerpiece" - a little pedestrian, but otherwise nice. Track 9: "Blue Bossa" - or rather, "Blue Samba", the way they play this. Strange sounding rhythm section - bass a little too much ahead of the others, drummer is like suspended in the air, with only snare and cymbals audible (did he not use his bass drum, or did they forget to open the microphone?). I have to admit I'm very critical about jazz players utilizing Latin rhythm like this - not enough understanding of the Brazilian roots, for my taste. Trombone is nice, soprano a little breathless and repeats himself too often in standard licks. Baritone has a nice warm but still edgy sound. Pianist doesn't sound completely at ease with this tempo - not a first class player. NMCOT. Track 10: Some Quincy Jones chart? Very nice drummer, who has the power to push this larger band with brushes. Jimmy Cleveland blowin' da bone? Johnny Griffin! I bet this is on my wish list! Not sure about the baritone, though. It's not from Cleveland's EmArcy disc, that's certain. Great big-toned bass - I know that guy!!! Arrgh! Like it a lot - 4 stars. Track 11: Oh - I used to have this. As good as this sounds I'm a little surprised that I must have dispensed of this in one of my LP sales over the years. A Manny Albam arrangement, titled "Blues from neither coast" IIRC. This was in rotaition quite often. I should have kept it, 'cause I'd love to listen to the whole album again! Track 12: Nice punchy bass drum sound - if you must play a march, do it like this! Oh - Dizzy Gillespie's "The Champ". That's a very nice tune, with that boppish urgency I love. Track 13: Oh - I know that one! What a great idea to play part of the melody on the cymbals! Mel Lewis. A phenomenon - a drummer with the power to drive the biggest bands, and the perfect chamber jazz drummer, and the swinginest, all in one person! The knife, Pepper Adams, Duke Pearson, the master of subtle swing, and my favourite post-bop trumpeter, Thad Jones. I sold my warped LP, but still have to get a CD replacement! Five stars! Track 14: Now that must be Mulligan, at last ...... Swingin' very hard, that is! I love him when he plays like this. Track 15: I know that tune, but can't remember the title ..... Again, not enough authentic Latin for me. Track 16: Authentic bop! Is this one of those Chaloff Dial sides? They're still scuffling a little with the new language - the baritone is the most fluent. Trumpet full of Dizzy-isms. I probably have that on some LP. Very nice trip - some great baritone anthology that you've compiled - thanks a lot! p.s. edited for some bad typo ....

Great! Did you think of Richrad Wyands, who recorded two sessions with Cal in 1954? Is Jack Weeks still around? Joao Donato should have something to say, too. But I suppose you have it all covered - looks very promising ......

From the TUTU records homepage: They both have their sublabels for "beyond" styles: Weber has TUTU Winckelmann has TipToe, 19_enja, Blues Beacon, and ENJA NOVA.

Did you talk to Dave Brubeck? I guess so ...... Oh how I envy you for meeting all these people! BTW - are Manny and Carlos Duran and Eddie Duran related?

Well, they split the whole catalog that existed at the time, and continue the same numbering system, but without overlaps, somehow - and they both have individual distribution arrangements.

There was a Tjader quartet/quintet LP with Eddie Duran and Frank Strazzeri recorded in 1974, Last Night When We Were Young, Fantasy F-9482. In the 1950's, Duran was on San Francisco Moods, Tjader Plays Tjazz, and the LP with Stan Getz. I don't know about any other sessions - if he didn't mix it up with the 1970's session, it must have stayed unissued, which is kind of hard to believe. Hi Mike, Thanks for sending the discography emails. I looked at Eddie's interview again and he didn't say the "strings" album was recorded in the 50's. He didn't specify a time. My goof. It must be "Last Night When We Were Young". I haven't heard that record and as you know it isn't on CD. I am assuming it had strings on it. You could confirm that for me. This one was recorded like the Verve quartet with strings (Warm Wave): Quartet/Quintet live in the studio, strings overdubbed at a later date. See my discos for details - Duran is not heard on all the tracks. I can send you a CDR of the "last Night" LP if you need it. Well, I didn't forget this but limited my listing to Fantasy sessions with the classic MJQ lineup. I will correct Torre's name in my disco. Hey, it's great you do this - I certainly want to read this, no matter if it will be published or not. I volunteer to proofread as well - this will keep the historical(discographical accuracy on the highest level. Fantastic that you are interviewing all these people - did you have a chance to talk to Mongo before he died? I keep my fingers crossed for you - I must read this!

Masabumi Kukuchi is a much respected and very versatile musician - he did an album with the Gil Evans Orchestra as well as an electric post-Bitches-Brew session with Miles's band (titled Wishes/Kochi on East Wind) - so check the personnel if you are not after such things. I only know these but find them to be excellent!

You're welcome! Is he playing both vibes and piano on this? Never reissued on CD, I'm afraid ....

Hi Jim, Your info does help. I think I have figured this out. The two mono records on red and black vinyl (3310) in 1960 were simply reissues of the 1956 red vinyl mono LP (3227). The 1962 "Quartet" LP was a stereo reissue of the 1956 album. The CD is the 8083 stereo reissue. There was no other "Quartet" LP in 1956. That info I read elsewhere was wrong. Thanks for clearing this up. -Duncan Are you two sure it was Fantasy 3-310? I have that as mono issue number of West Side Story! According to my info, 3-307 was the number of the first reissue of 3-227 with a different cover.

As far as I know, yes. Have you heard this? Very rare! Well, this is very probable - I found no trace of a Buddy Munsinger, but not much more info about Buddy Motsinger, either. As long as we cannot prove this, we should denote it as a conclusion. Yes it was - one of the very few titles never issued on any LP or CD, only the 45 rpm release.

There was a Tjader quartet/quintet LP with Eddie Duran and Frank Strazzeri recorded in 1974, Last Night When We Were Young, Fantasy F-9482. In the 1950's, Duran was on San Francisco Moods, Tjader Plays Tjazz, and the LP with Stan Getz. I don't know about any other sessions - if he didn't mix it up with the 1970's session, it must have stayed unissued, which is kind of hard to believe. No other "jazz" Tjader Quartet (vibes-piano-bass-drums) LPs known to me besides: - Cal Tjader Quartet -: Cal Tjader (vibes) Gerald Wiggins (piano) Eugene Wright (bass) Bill Douglass (drums) Los Angeles, California, May 1956 - Fantasy 3-227, Fantasy 3-307, Fantasy 8083 (the latter issue was new to me - thanks JimR!) - Jazz At The Blackhawk -: Cal Tjader (vibes) Vince Guaraldi (piano) Eugene Wright (bass) Al Torre (drums) The Blackhawk, San Francisco, California, January 20, 1957 - Fantasy 3-241, Fantasy 8096 - Cal Tjader -: Cal Tjader (vibraphone) Vince Guaraldi (piano) Gene Wright (bass) Al Torre (drums) San Francisco, California, April 10 & 15, 1957 - Fantasy 3-253

There were two different versions of Afro Blue: one recorded live at Monterey and one recorded in the studio (the other three tracks from that 1959 sessions were released on Tjader Goes Latin). I played them back to back, the version on Latino is the live version. But you are right that all the other tracks on that LP were taken from previously released material. I will e-mail my discography - it is in three parts, so you will get three mails.

I wonder if Larry Young was on these two unissued Verve sessions - he was on the one that was released, and they were recorded not long after.

Not sure myself, but I recently got the Fantasy CD reissue of The Mastersounds, and while listening, kept saying to myself how f.......ng great this man was on vibes - he was a monster on piano, but on vibes I think he belongs into the top ten.

Every man to his own taste, but this is a case where I think that session order makes more sense - the different rhythm section shine much clearer when the sessions are completed.

At first I was mad at myself, beacuse after the first two enthusiastic listening rounds I couldn't find any more time to dig in deeper into the grooves of this groovy disc, but now I know why: My Gods wanted to save me being even more mad at myself, had I not been able to identify track # 1, which sounded awfully familiar, but I couldn't track it down .... but last night the light flashed and I got it. My favourite European arranger at work, and one of the greatest big bands ever, and I certainly do hear their meanin'! This is available for a mere $ 6.98 at this label's website - I got it last week, the CD transfer sounds good. Rodney, did you dub this from LP? - more to come, I won't peak!

A belated birthday toot for tooter!

I remembered we've discussed that tune Squeeze Me before: Click here - go to post # 16 and further down. It is the Ellington tune, but miscredited.

Amazon recently e-mailed they can't get it and cancelled my order. OOP, it seems.

Verve released 15 LPs by Tjader: Verve V6-8419 Cal Tjader - In A Latin Bag Verve V6-8459 Cal Tjader - Saturday Night, Sunday Night At The Blackhawk Verve V6-8470 Cal Tjader Plays The Contemporary Music of Mexico and Brazil Verve V6-8472 Anita O'Day & Cal Tjader - Time For Two Verve V6-8507 Cal Tjader - Several Shades Of Jade Verve V6-8531 Cal Tjader - Soña Libré Verve V6-8575 Cal Tjader - Breeze From The East Verve V6-8585 Cal Tjader - Warm Wave Verve V6-8614 Cal Tjader - Soul Sauce Verve V6-8626 Cal Tjader - Soul Bird: Whiffenpoof Verve V6-8637 Cal Tjader - Soul Burst Verve V6-8651 Cal Tjader & Eddie Palmieri - el sonido nuevo Verve V6-8671 Cal Tjader - Along Comes Cal Verve V6-8730 Cal Tjader - Hip Vibrations Verve V6-8769 Cal Tjader - The Prophet These are the CDs with complete LPs - some are OOP: Verve 519 812-2 Cal Tjader & Eddie Palmieri - el sonido nuevo Verve 521 668-2 Cal Tjader - Soul Sauce Verve 537 083-2 Cal Tjader – Several Shades of Jade / Breeze From The East Verve 543 380-2 Cal Tjader Plays The Contemporary Music of Mexico and Brazil Verve 549 111-2 Cal Tjader – Soul Bird: Whiffenpoof Verve 557 446-2 Cal Tjader - Soul Burst Verve 559 808-2 Anita O'Day & Cal Tjader - Time For Two Verve 815 058-2 Cal Tjader - Sona Libré The Prophet has been on Japanese CD, but is OOP. Tracks from the others have been reissued on various Verve compilations, with one exception: Nothing from Saturday Night, Sunday Night At The Blackhawk has ever appeared on any CD, which is a shame, as it is one of Tjader's very best straightahead live LPs. Used LPs in good condition are easy to find on ebay or GEMM.com at fair prices. There was one LP recorded for Tico under Eddie Palimieri's name in 1966 which also belongs into this time period: Tico SLP-1150 Cal Tjader & Eddie Palmieri - Bamboléate This has seen various CD reissues. A complete Tjader Verve box set would take 8 CDs, all filled to the brim. There still is a handful of unissued tracks in the Verve vaults.

The DCC was recorded for Skye but not released at the time - making a total of two studio and two live discs each for the Skye label. Huracán is indeed nice - it was on a Laserlight CD with two bonus tracks, but LP copies are easily found on ebay or GEMM.com at reasonable prices.