Cal Tjader
From the 1950s until his death, Cal Tjader was practically the point man between the worlds of Latin jazz and mainstream bop; his light, rhythmic, joyous vibraphone manner could comfortably embrace both styles. His numerous recordings for Fantasy and Verve and long-standing presence in the San Francisco Bay Area eventually had a profound influence upon Carlos Santana, and thus Latin rock. He also played drums and bongos, the latter most notably on the George Shearing Quintet's "Rap Your Troubles in Drums," and would occasionally sit in on piano as well.
Tjader studied music and education at San Francisco State College before hooking up with fellow Bay Area resident Dave Brubeck as the drummer in the Brubeck Trio from 1949 to 1951. He then worked with Alvino Rey, led his own group, and in 1953, joined George Shearing's then hugely popular quintet as a vibraphonist and percussionist. It was in Shearing's band that Tjader's love affair with Latin music began, ignited by Shearing bassist Al McKibbon, nurtured by contact with Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, and Armando Peraza, and galvanized by the '50s mambo craze. When he left Shearing the following year, Tjader promptly formed his own band that emphasized the Latin element yet also played mainstream jazz. Bobo and Santamaria eventually joined Tjader's band as sidemen, and Vince Guaraldi served for a while as pianist and contributor to the band's songbook ("Ginza," "Thinking of You, MJQ").
Tjader recorded a long series of mostly Latin jazz albums for Fantasy from the mid-'50s through the early '60s, switching in 1961 to Verve, where under Creed Taylor's aegis he expanded his stylistic palette and was teamed with artists like Lalo Schifrin, Anita O'Day, Kenny Burrell, and Donald Byrd. Along the way, Tjader managed to score a minor hit in 1965 with "Soul Sauce," a reworking of Dizzy Gillespie/Chano Pozo's "Guacha Guaro," which Tjader had previously cut for Fantasy. Tjader returned to Fantasy in the 1970s, then in 1979 moved over to the new Concord Picante label, where he remained until his death in 1982.
© Richard S. Ginell /TiVo
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Black Or White
Latin America - Released by Belle Wood on Jan 3, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rainbow Girl
Latin America - Released by cappo digital on Jan 14, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Colorful Garden
Latin America - Released by cappo digital on Jan 6, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Winter Dress
Latin America - Released by Belle Wood on Jan 21, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Super Hit Party
Latin America - Released by cappo digital on May 19, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Evergreen Super Hits
Latin America - Released by cappo digital on Apr 21, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Always The Best Hits
Latin America - Released by The Most Wanted Hits on Mar 31, 2017
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Amazing Top Hits
Latin America - Released by The Most Wanted Hits on Feb 15, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wonderworld Of Hits
Latin America - Released by cappo digital on Jan 2, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas Bells Are Ringing
Jazz - Released by Belle Wood on Dec 15, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Christmas Time Is Fairy-Tale Time
Jazz - Released by cappo digital on Dec 22, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Christmas Is Almost Here
Jazz - Released by cappo digital on Dec 16, 2016
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Christmas Greeting
Jazz - Released by wonderful music on Dec 13, 2016
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Christmas Cards
Jazz - Released by wonderful music on Dec 7, 2016
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The Angels Sing Merry Christmas
Latin America - Released by cappo digital on Dec 2, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Souvenirs Of Summer
Jazz - Released by The Most Wanted Hits on Oct 22, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo