HutchFan

Cal Tjader - Guarabe (Fantasy, 1977) This band -- with Clare Fischer and Poncho Sanchez -- was excelente.

Charlie Palmieri !!!

From my perspective, that one's up there with Hill's very best.

I'm now listening to: Jerry Gonzalez & the Fort Apache Band - Obatalá (Enja, 1989)

It's a gem, especially if you enjoy Mr. "T" with Shirley Scott -- and I most certainly do. with Jimmy Ponder, Bob Cranshaw, and Idris Muhammad YT Playlist

Inspired by Dub's Stanley Turrentine posts above:

Nice list, D.D. Possibly. There are a ton of excellent recordings from that time, AQ-wise. One example: I think many early-80s Enja LPs sound superb -- i.e., Chet Baker's Peace, on your list.

Yeah, I get it. With big sets like these, you can't go in looking for an "album experience." This is a different animal.

I used to think the two Strata East volumes from Slugs were better than this stuff. ...Now, I'm not so sure. Hard to choose between them because they're both REALLY good. Tolliver with Cowell, McBee, and Hopps. Yes! Tolliver with Hicks, Workman, and Queen. Yes!

I hear you.

Sure, that makes sense. It was a special band.

I haven't read back earlier in the thread -- but am I the only one who feels like the original 2-LP set was more impactful than the 3-CD set??? Not because of format. But because it was a more concentrated dose of AMAZING music. And the 3-disc set felt a bit more diffuse? That's why this set doesn't hold that much appeal for me. I'm sure this stuff is good, but it ain't gonna be as good as the original release, right? One of the perils of box sets, I guess.

Nice to see Chuck's work on there! And Roscoe twice! My one beef: No Afro-Latin music on list about percussion? What's up with that?! JK But only sorta.

More Tito Puente:

Formerly, I ever-so-slightly preferred Pumpkin's Delight -- but, after listening to them side-by-side a quite a bit lately, I find myself coming 'round to your point of view. Yes sir! So true. Both playing- AND composition-wise. And Buster blends so well with Rouse...

Tito Puente - 50 Years of Swing (RMM) Discs 1 & 2

I really dig Sphere's two live recordings for Red -- this one and Pumpkin's Delight. The word I'm looking for is "felicitous."

and

This again: Eddie Palmieri - Superimposition (Tico, 1970) Listening to this LP, it's not hard to understand why Palmieri is beloved by both salsa dancers and jazzheads. Great story. That must have been wonderful and scary!

NP: Cal Tjader - Both Sides of the Coin (Concord Picante) Disc 1 - originally released as Gozame! Pero Ya... To borrow a phrase from Stuart Scott, this music is "as cool as the other side of the pillow."

Carlos “Patato” Valdés - Masterpiece (Messidor, rec. 1984/85) with Jerry Gonzalez, Ronnie Cuber, Artie Webb, Rolando Briceño, Jorge Dalto, Michel Camilo, Andy Gonzalez, Ignacio Berroa, Steve Berrios, Nicky Marrero, a.o.

Hall & Oates' Abandoned Luncheonette just might get my vote for the most underrated pop/rock record ever. ... Admittedly, I grew up hearing it spin OFTEN on my dad's turntable, so I'm nowhere near "objective" about it. Very different than the 80s stuff, of course. But no less successful, IMO. So Hall & Oates... Hell yeah!

Jorge Sylvester - MusiCollage (Postcards, 1996) The Postcards label issued some good stuff during their brief run -- including this CD.