Tjader (1970)

[mikeweil]

One of the most popular Cal Tjader LPs from 1970 titled simply Tjader has finally been reissued on CD in Japan - Dusty Groove and CD Universe have it. Just ordered my copy. This is on many people's wish list.

[Sundog]

Thank you, just got mine. Backordered at CDU, DG still seems to have it available though.

[Guest donald petersen]

i was trying to find info on this disc online and could not.

could someone describe what is crappin' on this album?

i almost created a thread to try and find out. it is funny mike W did. i knew he would know!

[mikeweil]

- Tjader -: Cal Tjader (vibes, organ -1) Al Zulaica (piano -3, electric piano -4) Jim McCabe (electric bass) Dick Berk (drums) Michael Smithe (congas) Robert Ferreira (flute –2)

brass section -5: John Coppola, Bill Attwood, Bill Powers (trumpet) Gordon Messick (trombone) Ed Bogas (arranger)

additional percussion –6: Coke Escovedo (timbales, quijada, vocals) Pete Escovedo (congas, agogo, vocals) Johnny Rae (tambourine)

probably Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California, 1970

I Showed Them -1,3,5 Fantasy F-8406

Wear Your Love Like Heaven –1,3,5 -

First there is a mountain –2,3,5 - , Fantasy 659

What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life –4 -

Fresh air –1,4,6 -

You Keep Me Hanging On –1,3,5,6 -

She's leaving home –1,3,5 -

Evil Ways –1,3,5,6 - , Fantasy 659

Mambero –1,4,6 -

Tjader was Cal's first Fantasy LP after his roughly ten years with Verve and Skye. It's clearly a child of its time, but the grooves - they could be described as some kind of souljazz montuno - are good, especially on the opening track. I love Cal's organ playing - yes he does it himself, via overdub - and the blend of vibes and Rhodes piano - Al Zulaica was an underrated player. This album opened Cal's music up to more modern rock/pop trends,in part due to the influence of producer Ed Bogas - famous for his soundtrack to Fritz The Cat, and a former member of Big Brother & The Holding Co.

The next album, Agua Dulce (available on the Fantasy CD Descargas) was more like Salsa, curiously, although recorded with basically the same band.

If you wonder about Cal handling these pop tunes, go for it - I love his rendition of the Beatles tune, She's Leaving Home. He makes it sound like it has been a popjazz ballad all the time.

Edited March 1, 2007 by mikeweil

[Peter Johnson]

Sadly, it's already out of stock. They weren't able to fill my order.

[mikeweil]

Try Hiroshi Tanno or others, AFAIK it's been offered by quite a number of sellers; this is even the second time it's on CD in Japan (missed it the first time around).