Afro Cuban Hard Bop Sessions

[Teasing the Korean]

I have lots of Latin and Latin jazz, and lots of hard bop; but I'm curious to know if there are any Afro Cuban hard bop gems from the late 40s, 50s and 60s that may not be on my radar. It seems like these albums often slip through the cracks in discussions. I'm talking small group stuff here, with more complex harmony and intense melodic lines augmented with really killer percussion.

Examples would be Kenny Dorham's "Afro Cuban" and Sabu's "Jazz Espagnole."

To my ears, there is a real difference between these kind of sessions and the straight-ahead jazz sessions where they pasted in a conga player thumping on the 2, 4 & and-of-4.

What fits the bill?

[Stereojack]

I have lots of Latin and Latin jazz, and lots of hard bop; but I'm curious to know if there are any Afro Cuban hard bop gems from the late 40s, 50s and 60s that may not be on my radar. It seems like these albums often slip through the cracks in discussions. I'm talking small group stuff here, with more complex harmony and intense melodic lines augmented with really killer percussion.

Examples would be Kenny Dorham's "Afro Cuban" and Sabu's "Jazz Espagnole."

To my ears, there is a real difference between these kind of sessions and the straight-ahead jazz sessions where they pasted in a conga player thumping on the 2, 4 & and-of-4.

What fits the bill?

James Moody's Blue Note date with Chano Pozo. Not sure how it's available currently.

[Teasing the Korean]

James Moody's Blue Note date with Chano Pozo. Not sure how it's available currently.

Thanks Jack. I have "Tin Tin Deo" on a comp. I asked about this once in a separate thread, and there are apparently two CDs on which it is paired with an early Jazz Messengers BN 10". It's on my radar but I haven't picked it up yet. Thanks for the reminder!

[mikeweil]

There are recordings by a guy named Antonio Diaz Mena, with Joe Henderson, Duke Pearson and the like, but they are very hard to find.

This is one of the sessions. Really great stuff:

Antonio Diaz "Chocolate" Mena - Eso Es Latin Jazz...Man! (Audio Fidelity AFLP 2117)

Johnny Coles, Richard Williams (tp) Britt Woodman (tb) Leo Wright (as, fl) Joe Henderson (ts) Duke Pearson (p, arr, cond) Bob Cranshaw (b) Walter Perkins (d) Antonio Diaz Mena (cga) Ramon Sardinas, Carlos "Patato" Valdes (per)

NYC, circa July, 1963 Take Five

Con Alma

Caravan

Green Dolphin Street

Poinciana

** also issued on Audio Fidelity AFSD 6117.

Edited July 19, 2009 by mikeweil

[mikeweil]

Here's a CD with the other session, arranged by Lalo Schifrin:

Tin Tin Deo

Lalo Schifrin

Featuring: Lalo Schifrin (arr, conductor), Clark Terry (t), Jimmy Cleveland (tp), Leo Wright (as,fl), Seldon Powell (as,fl), Jerome Richardson (bs), Felipe Yañez (p), Frank Schifano (b), Rudy Collins (d) Antoniom Diaz Mena (cga)

REFERENCE: FSRCD 319

BAR CODE: 84 27328 60319 5

PRICE: 9.90 €

Tracklisting:

Lalo Schifrin Orchestra:

1. Tin Tin Deo (L.Pozo)

2. Pega Joso (L.Schifrin-A.Mena)

3. Mambo Jazz Opus No.7 (L.Schifrin)

4. Kush (D.Gillespie)

5. Harlem Nocturne (E.Hagen)

Lalo Schifrin Sextet:

6. Cubano Be (G.Russell)

7. Kush (D.Gillespie)

8. An Evening In Sao Paulo (L.Schifrin)

9. The Snake's Dance (L.Schifrin)

10. Sphyros (L.Schifrin)

11. Mount Olive (L.Schifrin)

12. Desafinado (A.C.Jobim-N.Mendonça)

13. Rhythm-A-Ning (T.Monk)

Recorded in New York, 1962

Edited July 19, 2009 by mikeweil

[Joe]

Jerry Gonzalez and his Fort Apache Band have recorded several fine sessions in this vein. Perhaps the best (IMO) is OBATALA on Enja. Great arrangement of Monk's "Evidence" on display.

Also, Hilton Ruiz's Novus dates, especially SOMETHING GRAND, with Sam Rivers guesting and A MOMENT'S NOTICE, with Kenny Garret and George Coleman.

[mikeweil]

Therre's a nice list on http://www.hipwax.com/music/lat_jazz.html

[Cali]

Although it was recorded in 2005, Jerry Gonzalez and The Fort Apache Band's RHUMBA BUHAINA, dedicated to Art Blakey and The Messengers, is a real good'un.

Edited July 22, 2009 by Cali

[sidewinder]

Also, Hilton Ruiz's Novus dates, especially SOMETHING GRAND, with Sam Rivers guesting and A MOMENT'S NOTICE, with Kenny Garret and George Coleman.

Seconded. Big for 'El Camino (The Road)' and 'Strut' from his RCA Novus sides. Particularly 'El Camino', which is a very strong session. As mentioned, some very nice straight-ahead Sam Rivers on those disks.

Edited July 22, 2009 by sidewinder

[Quasimado]

Therre's a nice list on http://www.hipwax.com/music/lat_jazz.html

That is one hell of a list!

One I searched for (on the list), but couldn't find, is *Afro- Cubop* issued as a 12" LP on Tony Williams' Spotlite label. This has a variety of airshots of the Machito band from the Royal Roost in 1949, supplemented by boppers such as Howard McGhee, Brew Moore, Milt Jackson and Charlie Parker. It also has a beautiful arrangement of *Reminiscing at Twilight* which supposedly has Bird on lead alto! TtK, I know you like good arrangements - I think you'd enjoy this, man...

Q

[clifford_thornton]

As for later/partially Afro-Cuban stuff, I really like the HARYOU Percussion Group record on ESP.

[JSngry]

Not really "Afro-Cuban" & not really "hard bop", but to quote the Dustellians:

Incredible! This is a stunning set of African-inspired jazzy percussion tracks -- similar to some of the work done by Art Blakey on his Orgy In Rhythm albums, but with a lot better horn work, and with an overall conception that's much more unified! AK Salim did some sleepier work for Savoy in the 50s -- but by the time of this 1965 recording, he was emerging as a progressive composer with a strong talent for bringing together disparate moods and styles. This rare recording was one of his best works ever, and it's one of the most unusual sides cut by Prestige in the 60s. It features Johnny Coles, Pat Patrick, and Yusef Lateef out front on horns -- plus backing by a host of Latin and African percussionists. Tracks are very long -- and the reed work of Lateef and Patrick makes the set especially worthwhile for jazz listeners. Titles include "Afrika", "Kumuamkia Mzulu", and "Pepo Za Sarari"