Los Ritmos Calientes - The Cal Tjader Forum

[mikeweil]

Since we're mentioning so many of his Verve albums, a word of praise and a heartfelt recommendation for this recent issue is due:

These excerpts from six live dates at the Penthouse in Seattle show how different Tjader's live gigs were from his studio albums. He had not changed his basic attitude of starting with straightahead jazz and adding the conguero later for the Latin numbers, and lost none of his jazz chops. The bands were tight, the sound identitly clear, even with sidemen that stepped in for only  a few weeks or months. The joy of playing is evident, as is the good spirit and interaction within the band. 

The concepts of the studio albums were dominated much more by Creed Taylor than I previously thought. To save on airplane fares, and because it was his preference, he used New York studio professionals, which had its pros and cons. Here's an overview of the Verve albums, with year of issue:

1 - In A Latin Bag -  1961 - basically his regular band with Paul Horn and Armando Peraza added. Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo had left, replaced by Wilfredo Vicente and Johnny Rae. Lonnie Hewitt played piano. Very elegant, very professional production, less casual than with Fantasy, but recorded in LA.

2 - Saturday Night / Sunday Night At The Blackhawk, San Francisco - 1961

A straightahead quartet live recording at one of all jazz musicians' favourite venues in California, with Lonnie Hewitt, Fred Schreiber, and Johnny Rae. It was to remain his only live album for Verve, Creed Taylor rarely was saitified with the sound and all. But this shows Tjader was up to par with any vibist of his generation, and perhaps had the most beautiful sound on the instrument.

Both of these were coupled on a British reissue in perfect sound, Universal never bothered to consider them. 

https://www.discogs.com/release/14772484-Cal-Tjader-In-A-Latin-Bag

3 - Anita O'Day & Cal Tjader - Time For 2 - 1962

Both were Verve artists at the time, the combination works fine, they used used Tjader's band with O'Day's pianist Bon Corwin steping in on several tracks. Since drummer Johnny Rae was an accomplished vibist as well, Tjader played drums on some tracks, the instrument that he started on and kept playing on a few recording sessions.

This was reissued by Verve on CD.

 

4 - Cal Tjader Plays The Contemporary Music Of Mexico And Brazil - 1962

The bossa nova craze had not yet started when Tjader went for Clare Fischer's idea of combining the beautiful melodies of Mexican composer Mario Ruiz Armengol with a rather unusual selection of modern Brazilian tunes. Tjader never went for the Jobim/Gilberto repertoire that everybody played. This, too, was reissued by Verve. I recommend programming the player for either the Armengol or the Brazilian tunes. Tjader's vibes sound is exceptionally beautiful here.

5 - Soña Libré - 1963

Recorded with Tjader's working band of the time with Clare Fischer on organ as well as piano, this  remains one of my favourites. A tight band, well chosen repertoire. There is one set with this personnel  in the Penthouse set. Believe it or not, this was among the first fifty CDs reissued on CD from the Verve catalog - but it is long out of print.

6 - Several Shades of Jade - 1963

This may be an attempt to profit on some type of exoctica fashion, but Lalo Shifrin's great arrangements make this a winner. New York studio guys play their asses off for a perfect backdrop for Tjader to solo on - this is as much a Schifrin as a Tjader album. 

7 - Breeze From The East - 1964

In an interview, Tjader confessed that he vomitted when he left the sudio after a mixing session. This may be exaggerated, but it definitely is the un-jazziest album he ever made. The number of preliminary sessions  and outtakes tells the story of how ill-conceived this mismatch of producer/arranger Stan Applebaum and Tjader was. In my ears, it fails even as an exotica album. Not nearly as Japanese as the cover suggests.

The last two albums were thrown together by Verve for a CD reissue. https://www.discogs.com/release/994955-Cal-Tjader-Several-Shades-Of-Jade-Breeze-From-The-East

8 - Warm Wave  - 1964

One of Tjader's greatest wishes was to record an all ballad album with some of the great New York studio pros, like Hank Jones. What he got was was this album where an overbearing string orchestra was arranged on top of the basic tracks. Claus Ogerman was one of Creed Taylor's favourites. If they had mixed the strings, flutes, and voices at lower volume this would sound much more elegant. It is good, but .... Never got a single CD reissue, not even in Japan, only a few tracks pop up on compilations.

9 - Soul Sauce - 1965

Undoubtedly Tjader's best selling Verve album. Taylor had booked an all-star band with Donald Byrd, Jimmy Heath, Kenny Burrell, Armando Peraza etc. and wanted some popular tunes from Tjader's book and some standards, but somehow it did not take off. So they flew in Tjader's band from California who laid down a series of first takes in one session. The title is a new name for one of the warhorses of the Dizzy Gillespie band with Chano Pozo, Guarachi Gurao, which hardly anyone was able to pronounce correctly. After Willie Bobo had overdubbed his vocal comments the following day and remarked this version was spicier than the original, Taylor came up with the title Soul Sauce, branding a whole style of music - salsa!

Only Afro Blue from the all-star sessions made it to the album. This was on CD several times in the US and Japan, but only the 1994 CD reissue has the two bonus tracks that presumably were arranged by Gary McFarland.

10 - Soul Bird; Whiffenpoof - 1965

Trying to follow up a hit record with another one often fails. Neither this nor the next became as popular as Soul Sauce, despite the inclusion of another Gillespie/Pozo number, Tin Tin Deo, and one titled Soul Motion. Taylor had leaned his lesson and kept Tjader's band for the session. 

This was on CD in the US LP replica series.

 11 - Soul Burst - 1966

Another attempt to follow up Soul Sauce - this time Manteca was included. Oliver Nelson was the arranger here for four tracks, of an all star band of New York pros including a young Chick Corea, but a comparison with the Penthouse live sets of that year shows that his working band played much livelier. This too was on US CD.

 

 

---------------------------------

The remaining five will come tomorrow.

Edited Thursday at 11:41 PM by mikeweil

[GA Russell]

Great work, Mike!  I have eight of the eleven.

[mikeweil]

12 - Cal Tjader & Eddie Palmieri - el sonido nuevo - 1966

The pairing of Tjader and one of the leading figures of what was now called Salsa shows the respect Tjader found in Latin circles. The band basically is Palmieri's band La Perfecta, with one trombone added and Bobby Rodriguez on bass. Those who found the "darker sound" special are not familiar with the developments in Palmieri's music. It works just fine and may be one of the most interesting Latin jazz albums of its time. There was a comment on discogs:  https://www.discogs.com/release/3841525-Cal-Tjader-Eddie-Palmieri-El-Sonido-Nuevo revealing that Tjader overdubbed his parts. The 1993 CD reissue added a strange selection of six bonus tracks taken from various other Tjader Verve albums.

 

13 - Cal Tjader & Eddie Palmieri - Bamboleate - 1967

There was a counterpart LP on Tico, the label with which Palmieri was under contact at the time. This has Palmieri's band intact, may sound a bit more commercial, or rather more to the taste of the Salsa audience. There were several CD reissues.

 

14 - Cal Tjader  - Along Comes Cal - 1967

The poppish cover was supposed to attract that audience, but except for the pop hit cover of Along Comes Mary this was the typical Tjader mixture, this time with some Latin vocals. Chico O'Farrill was the arranger. Personnel on the back cover is not quite correct, only Los Bandidos was recorded live at El Matador with a splendid conga solo by Armando Peraza. The whole album never made it to CD, some tracks are on compilations.

 

15 - Cal Tjader  - Hip Vibrations - 1968

Another poppish cover -  this time it was justified by two covers of pop tunes along the typical Tjader mix. Benny Golson and Bobby Bryant shared the arrangements. For some reasons, the takes recorded in LA were rejected, and the whole album was re-done in New York six weeks later. Like I noted with the one before, the whole album never made it to CD, some tracks are on compilations.

 

16 - Cal Tjader  - The Prophet - 1969

Although the last one issued, the basic tracks for this were recorded prior to Hip Vibrations, but this time it took longer than expected to have strings, voices, flugelhorn and flute arranged and overdubbed in New York. I really would love to hear the quartet without the overdubs, as Joao Donato's organ playing is the epitome of good taste and a bit drowned out by them. This was reissued on CD twice, but only in Japan. Still your prefect summer evening album. Tjader and Donato were a perfect match.

 

For recordings details and corrections of the information on album covers and other les professional discographies (or what they called), please consult https://jazzdiscography.com/Artists/cal-tjader/cal-tjader-discography-part2.php which also shows you were the Penthouse sessions fit in. As I said before, they are the perfect amendment to the Verve studio albums.

Edited Friday at 03:39 PM by mikeweil

[Teasing the Korean]

13 hours ago, mikeweil said:

1 - In A Latin Bag -  1961 - basically his regular band with Paul Horn and Armando Peraza added. Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo had left, replaced by Wilfredo Vicente and Johnny Rae. Lonnie Hewitt played piano. Very elegant, very professional production, less casual than with Fantasy, but recorded in LA.

"Triste" (not to be confused with the Jobim tune) is the money cut on here, though the whole album is great.

13 hours ago, mikeweil said:

6 - Several Shades of Jade - 1963

This may be an attempt to profit on some type of exoctica fashion, but Lalo Shifrin's great arrangements make this a winner. New York studio guys play their asses off for a perfect backdrop for Tjader to solo on - this is as much a Schifrin as a Tjader album. 

Agreed, and I might go a tad further and call it a Schifrin album with Cal as guest soloist.

13 hours ago, mikeweil said:

7 - Breeze From The East - 1964

In an interview, Tjader confessed that he vomitted when he left the sudio after a mixing session. This may be exaggerated, but it definitely is the un-jazziest album he ever made. The number of preliminary sessions  and outtakes tells the story of how ill-conceived this mismatch of producer/arranger Stan Applebaum and Tjader was. In my ears, it fails even as an exotica album. Not nearly as Japanese as the cover suggests.

Completely agree.  It sucks as both jazz and exotica, although the version of "Black Orchid" is nice (and almost identical to the Fantasy version).

[mikeweil]

9 minutes ago, Teasing the Korean said:

"Triste" (not to be confused with the Jobim tune) is the money cut on here, though the whole album is great.

The same tune is on Breeze From The East as Fuji!

[Teasing the Korean]

4 hours ago, mikeweil said:

The same tune is on Breeze From The East as Fuji!

And, needless to say, nowhere near as good.

[Teasing the Korean]

So it looks like I have all the Verve LPs with the exception of Hip Vibrations.  

From the first Fantasy period, I probably have about half of them.  

I think I have two Skye albums, and then a few scattered releases from after his return to Fantasy.

I typically gravitate toward the Verve albums, but there is so much great stuff from that first Fantasy period.  

 

[GA Russell]

Triste/Fuji is a favorite of mine as well!

I have all of the Skyes.  I'm a fan of everything on that label.

[mikeweil]

Let me continue with the four Skye releases. Next is the second Fantasy period in the 1970's, then Concord. I will deal with the Fantasy albums last, as they are the most complicated, re-issue-wise.

For info on the Skye label, please consult Doug Payne's excellent research: https://dougpayne.com/skye1.htm

1 - Solar Heat - 1968

Tjader's last Verve session was not yet issued when he went into the studio for his first album on the musician owned Skye label. On a superficial level, rather commercial in the selecion of pop covers and Latin stuff, but thanks to Gary McFarland's impeccable taste and professionalism it is perfect on all levels: sound, sidemen, arrangements ..... good for easy listening, but a closer listen reveals that it is so well done ..... Tjader's beautiful vibes sound is captured  perfectly. Joao Donato was brought in on organ, Tjader didn't like the usual Hammond stylings. Try to play it like that before you classify it as commercial. There were many reissues, partly bootlegs. I recommend the Dunhill Compact Classics CDs or the more recent Japanese reissues, which sound excellent. 

 

2 - Cal Tjader Sounds Out Burt Bacharach - 1968

The second studio album is all Burt Bacharach tunes - Solar Heat already included one. Tjader was quoted there in the liner that he just played the melody, as that is all you have to do with a Bacharach tune. He was right, but how beautifully did he play them! Same reissue situation.

 

3 - The Cal Tjader Quintet * Featuring Armando Perazza* – Latin + Jazz = Cal Tjader 

This was recorded live in Aspen, Colorado, in 1968, where Tjader played regularly, but not issued at the time. The first issue (on CD) was in 1990 and included a track from the other 1969 Aspen recording, probably to make up for short playing time. It may not have been Tjader's greatest band, but considering how much effort it is to maintain such an identifyable band sound, it is a very good recording. 

 

4 - Cal Tjader Plugs In - 1969

This 1969 live recording from Aspen was Tjader's fourth and last album on the label. What I said about the other one applies here as well. The Skye label folded soon due to financial problems, McFarland died in 1971. The LP had a nice foldout cover with photos from Tjader's career until then.

Edited Saturday at 12:05 AM by mikeweil

[Niko]

Thanks for these posts, super useful... I just started my Tjader collection with "Last night when we were young" on Fantasy and might want to add more...

[mikeweil]

Before I go on to the 1970's Fantasy albums, a last remark on the Verve period: While Universal never did reissue all of Tjader's 16 Verve albums as CDs - 9 were in the US, 1 only in Japan, 2 more  by a UK label, 1 was on Tico 3 never made it to CD - there were plenty of compilations. It already started in the LP era:

This was released in 1967 an so could not cover the last three LPs.

This 1969 twofer combined the first LP, In A Latin Bag, with Several Shades of Jade and Breeze From The East, omitting one track. 

This 1973 twofer covered the whole Verve period.

Another 1974 twofer with a different selection.

The CD era brought us half a dozen compilations in the various series Universal thought up:

At least they show that all the master tapes were still in existence. Eddie Palmieri, suprisingly, is the only compiler covering the album with Ogerman's strings - well, he also arranged a few tracks for el sonido nuevo. There is surprisingly little overlap.

For details look at my discography or the discogs entries

Edited yesterday at 01:41 AM by mikeweil

[Teasing the Korean]

14 hours ago, mikeweil said:

 

That was the first Cal Tjader I had on CD, and at the time, I thought it was a great comp. I would probably still think so.

[mikeweil]

On to the Fantasy LPs from 1970 to 1977. As the label was located in San Francisco it was more convenient for than having to deal with a lbel on the other coast. His producer beacme Ed Bogas, who had been invloved in the psychedlic scene (there was a single album with a band The United States of America) and was one the earliest users of the Moog synthesizer. He went on to successful  career in movie and TV music, succeeding Vince Guaraldi after the latter's death to provide music for The Peanuts. Bogas had his own ideas about the fusion of Latin Jazz with pop tunes but seriously tried to find compromises with Tjader's and the way the band played live. In addition, Tjader's band was still suffering from the difficulties to find suitable replacements for Lonnie Hewitt, Mongo Santamaria, and Willie Bobo - a situation that was bettered when pianist Al Zulaica came on board. Drummer Dick Berk became a regular, and conguero Michael Smithe. The were the core band for Tjader, a studio album that, including overdubbing horns and vocals, took a few months to complete. Sound and repertoire take a nod to the success of Santana in the preceding years, Tjader even plays organ on a few tracks. The opening track, I Showed Them, is a clever reference to a hit reocrd of The Turtles, You Showed Me. Why Fantasy never reissued this escapes me, there only were two Japanese CD reissues. 

1 - Tjader (1970)

2 - Agua Dulce (1971)

The next was similar, with a bit more Latin focus, due to the Escovedo brothers being temporary members of the band, before founding the great Azteca group that helped Santana through a minor crisis. 

Fantasy should have paired these two albums on a twofer CD, instead they oddly paired Agua Dulce, which also saw single CD reissues in Japan and the UK, with the third, a live album, and named the twofer Descarga. 

 

3 - Live at The Funky Quarters (1972)

His working band with Al Zulaica, John Heard, Dick Berk, and Michael Smithe. Not as much bite as the 1950's Fantasy live albums. For the CD reissue they had to omit the last track, which makes the choice evne more odd.

52 minutes ago, Teasing the Korean said:

That was the first Cal Tjader I had on CD, and at the time, I thought it was a great comp. I would probably still think so.

They all are really not bad, but they could have issued less comps and the rest instead. Along Comes Cal and Hip Vibrations would have made a great twofer CD.

[ghost of miles]

Working on a show about Tjader in the 1950s and will be doing a sequel about his Verve recordings as well later this year.

Also came across this Tjader tribute to baseball player Orlando Cepeda:

 

 

Edited yesterday at 05:35 PM by ghost of miles

[JSngry]

Did somebody say Orlando Cepeda?

 

[Teasing the Korean]

Of those early '70s Tjader Fantasy LPs, I have Tjader & Funky Quarters. I generally like these albums, but I don't like the sound of the Fender Rhodes piano with the vibes.  They share a similar timbre, and they sometimes sound like mud when they are playing together.  Granted, piano players had limited instrument choices for live gigs in the early 70s.

[GA Russell]

Mike, when Skye folded, did Cal have options regarding whom to sign with, or was only Fantasy interested?

Living in the East, it was my experience that the Fantasy albums were not often seen in the stores.  Others may have had different experiences.

[mikeweil]

More 1970's Tjader on Fantasy:

4 - Fritz the Cat (1972)

In between Ed Bogas recruited Tjader to play some for the soundtrack to Fritz the Cat:

He can be heard on the remake of his 1955 piece Mamblues, but also (uncredited) on Duke's Theme and the last minute of the last track. There was a single CD reissue in Japan; the US label coupled it with another Bogas soundtrack:

 

5 - Puttin' It Together (1974)

Another live album, this time Mike Wolff plays electric piano. Again, not as exciting as the earlier live albums. It never saw a reissue.

 

6 - Primo (1973)

In Fabruary 1973 Tjader was in New York for another stidio album under Bogas' supervision, but before that was completed, an album with a Latino band around Charlie Palmieri was nailed down in only two days, with Tito Pente participating. It is up to par with any New York Latino Jazz album of the time and was reissued on an Orginial Jazz Classics CD with an alternate take added:

 

7 - Last Bolero In Berkeley (1973)

Only in September did they find the time to complete the album they had started in February, with different line-ups and a strange mixture of styles, including Bogas' arrangement of Ravel's Bolero, probably to profit on its use in the movie Last Tango In Paris. Only then did Tjader manage to include a tribute to his friend Gary McFarland, who had passed in 1971.  This was on CD only in Japan.

 

8 - Tambu (1974)

Only one week later the combined bands of Cal Tjader and Charlie Byrd entered the studio for three days to record a cooperative album - it may have been producer Orrin Keepnews' idea, who was by then freelancing for Fantasy, among others. Somehow it does not really convince me - the rhythm sections do not really match, no matter what the mix of players is. Byrd's drummer, has problems with the 7/8 rhythm of the title track. On the last day, they still had to nail a final track for the Bolero album. The whole thing does not sound as relaxed as it should have been. It was on CD as Original Jazz Classic.

 

9 - Last Night WhenWe Were Young (1975)

This collaboration with pianist/arranger Frank Strazzeri recorded immediately after the Bolero and Tambu sessions, turns out to be the winner among Tjader's albums with strings. The arrangements are delicate, never obtrusive, like an organic part of the band. A masterful display of tasteful ballad playing. Old friend Eddie Duran makes a guest appearance. Too bad this was never reissued.

 

 

10 - Amazonas (1976)

Now here is your perfect mix of the latest Brazilian fusion stylings the Tjader's Latin Jazz feeling. The cast of players is impressive: Egberto Gismonti, George Duke, David Amato, Hermeto Pascoal, Robertinho Silva, Raul de Souza .... Airto Moreira was producing, and it was him and Tjader who worked out the arrangements together, not George Duke as stated on the back cover. This includes the best version of Joao Donato's Amazonas, which Tjader recorded several times. (Donato was his favourite Brazilian composer and friend since they met in 1959 when Donato moved to California). I played this album hundreds of times when it was issued. Just great. The OJC CD includes a longer alternate take. 

 

11 - Cal Tjader At Grace Cathedral (1977)

Tjader and his band stepped in for the unexpectedly deceased Vince Guaraldi, who had recorded a successful album at the Cathedral. Poncho Sanchez had just joined the band and prooved to be a stabilizing figure until Tjader's death, as was bassist Rob Fisher and drummer Pete Riso. Lonnie Hewitt was once again back in the band. This has a similar choice of tunes as Puttin' It Together, but the band grooves a lot more. It was on CD with a slightly altered title.

 

12 - Guarabe (1977)

At the time this was recored, Hewitt was out again - he and Tjader had arguments time and again over the fifteen years they played together. Clare Fischer had replaced him, and was in his phase of experimenting with keyboards. On the title track they overdubbed multiple electric piano, guitar, and bass lines for a stunning orchestral effect.  Besides that you have a great remake of Black Orchid, and some of Tjader's best ballad playing. For CD reissue it was coupled with the live album the same band recorded shortly after.

 

By this time Fantas had turned into a pop label, which affected the style of the albums by jazz artists on the label. For the more or less mainstrean jazz artists, the Galaxy label was revitalized with an interesting artist roster. Tjader had two releases.

13 - Here (1977)  & 14 -  Cuban Fantasy (2003)

Tjader's working band recorded at the GReat American Music Hall on June 17 & 18, 1977. A first selection of six tracks was issued on Here. The twofer reissue CD pictured above omitted one track! More unreleased tracks were on a separate CD in 2003. These are even better, IMHO, and reveal how tight this band was. 

 

15 - Breathe Easy (1978)

Tjader's swan song for the Fantasy label group was this intimate studio session with old friends Allen Smith on trumept (an underrated California resident), Monty Budwig, and Shelly Manne, and his favoured veteran pianist, Hank Jones. A relaxed and tasteful album. On CD it was coupled with his very first 10" LP for  the label, thus the title, Extremes. 

Edited 23 hours ago by mikeweil

[mikeweil]

1 hour ago, GA Russell said:

Mike, when Skye folded, did Cal have options regarding whom to sign with, or was only Fantasy interested?

Living in the East, it was my experience that the Fantasy albums were not often seen in the stores.  Others may have had different experiences.

It was Tjader who approached Saul Zaentz of Fantasy when he saw the bankruptcy of Skye coming. Together they worked out a new contract.

I don't know about the US, but here in Germany Fantasy LPs were all over the place due to their distributors here - Bellaphon, and later ZYX.

[felser]

1 hour ago, mikeweil said:

It was Tjader who approached Saul Zaentz of Fantasy

Obviously he didn't consult John Fogerty first.  I guess it makes sense that he would go back to Fantasy, as Pablo hadn't started up yet.

[JSngry]

I'm not sure that Zaentz had the same level of respect for old-school musicians like Tjader as he did for Rock Star Cash Cows like Fogerty.

[mikeweil]

11 hours ago, felser said:

I guess it makes sense that he would go back to Fantasy, as Pablo hadn't started up yet.

Maybe he was a bit tired about the business part. He preferred the comfort of having a label situated close to his home. Besides that I don't think Norman Granz would have featured Tjader - he had Milt Jackson, and Tjader never was that close to the JATP vibe that permeated Pablo.

11 hours ago, JSngry said:

I'm not sure that Zaentz had the same level of respect for old-school musicians like Tjader as he did for Rock Star Cash Cows like Fogerty.

Duncan Reid has a more favourable view of Zaentz in this respect. Read the book. Duncan deserves a few more sales for his work.

Edited 9 hours ago by mikeweil

[JSngry]

I said it backwards, sorry. I meant that he probably had MORE respect for real players like Tjader than he would have had for the likes of  Fogerty.