NEWSLETTER #125
Ethnic & World Music
Mario Bauza -> Various Artists
| MARIO BAUZA | Messidor 15824 | My Time Is Now | ● CD $15.98 | |
| 9 tracks, 41 minutes, highly recommended. It is not too much
to say that trumpeter/arranger Mario Bauza, along with Machito, originated
Afro-Cuban Jazz in New York City in the 1940's. It was Bauza's genius to
blend Cuban rhythms with the big band and be bop styles of the era. His
career went into a lull in the sixties and seventies, but he made his
comeback in the eighties and nineties with three excellent Messidor albums
from which the tracks on this CD are culled. Classic tunes are reprised with
an all-star cast. (JV) |
| XAVIER CUGAT | Harlequin HQCD 160 | Jack Jack Jack 1947-1949 | ● CD $16.98 | |
| 25 tracks, 75 minutes, highly recommended. Xavier Cugat gets
a bad rap today because he was your parents' favorite Latin music purveyor
(and, in truth, some of his later sides did tend toward the lounge-y). But
he was an important figure in introducing Latin music to the United States
and his earlier sides swung. Exhibit #1: these late forties big band sides,
which feature both jazz and Latin styles and Latin (Jose Monero and Aladdin
Pallante) and pop (Buddy Clark and Dorothy Porter) vocalists. (JV) |
| IBRAHIM FERRER | Tumbao 704 | Mi Oriente | ● CD $13.98 | |
| 21 tracks, 61 minutes, highly recommended. Many know Ibrahim
Ferrer from his emotional fronting vocals (done as a septuagenarian) with
the Buena Vista Social Club. This CD presents classic tracks he recorded
forty years ago in Havana with the orchestra of Electo Rosell˙ Horruitiner
(Chepin), a popular Cuban band of the day. Both Chepin and Ferrer were from
Oriente province and the music they made still reflects folkloric roots even
in a big band setting. (JV) |
| ADAM HEBERT | Swallow 6169 | The Essential Adam Hebert | ● CD $15.98 | |
| 27 tracks, 73 mins, highly recommended If you're looking for
some earthly raunchy cajun music such as was heard in the dancehalls and
taverns of the early 60's, Adam Hebert And His Country Playboys would fit
the bill just fine. Aided by Claby Richard on accordion and Dick Richard on
steel guitar, Hebert sings and fiddles lustily and "straight from his heart"
on this lively selection of two-steps and waltzes including La Valse De
Ma Cherie which was heard in Charles Bronson's movie "Hard Times" and
typifies the hybrid of cajun and honky tonk that Hebert captures so well.
Most of the songs are Hebert originals - a number that have become Cajun
standards. Most of these great tracks are making their first appearance on
CD. (JM/ FS) |
| IHASHI ELIMHLOPHE | Gallo CDGMP 40733 | Isiphalaphala | ● CD $17.98 | |
| 10 tracks, 45 mins, highly recommended. Excellent album of
traditional Zulu mbaqanga music originally issued in 1997. It features the
powerful lead vocals of Bheki Ngcobo and fine support from the other seven
members of the group featuring the distinctive skittering electric guitar
sound, thundering bass and rhythmic drumming with occasional accordion added
as garnish. As alwyas with this kind of music the vocal harmonies are
wonderous and the lead vocals include brief spoken segments which are taken
at a breakneck pace. Joyous and rewarding listening. (FS) |
| ANDY IONA & THE ISLANDERS | The Old Masters 132 | Hawaiians In Hollywood, Vol. 1 | ● CD $13.98 | |
| More fine Hawaiian music reissued by The Old Masters. This
one features 24 tracks recorded between 1934 and 1936 by one of the most
influential Hawaiian musicians of the period and a member of the prestigious
Royal Hawaiian Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame. |
| THE LECUONA CUBAN BOYS | Harlequin HQCD 11 | Lecuona Cuban Boys Volume 1 | ● CD $16.98 | |
| 21 tracks, 62 minutes, highly recommended.
Pianist/composer/arranger Ernesto Lecuona has been called the George
Gershwin of Cuba, both for his genius and his versatility. One of the things
he did was to lead a dance band which toured the world. On a European tour
in 1932, Lecuona took sick and returned to Cuba, but the band stayed on
(with pianist Armando Orefiche taking over leadership and arranging duties).
They stayed in Europe until the war (escaping just before the German
invasion of Holland) and toured through the 1970's. This CD collects some of
their classic tracks from the 1930's and combines conga and rumba dance
rhythms with traditional melodies. (JV) |
| JESSE LEGE & THE SOUTHERN RAMBLERS | Acadiana 0139 | Jesse Lege & The Southern Ramblers | ● CD $13.98 | |
| 16 tracks, 63 mins, highly recommended Superb collection of
traditional style Cajun music featuring the wonderful soulful crying vocals
and powerful accordion work of Lake Charles based Jesse Lege with a fine band
including the twin fiddles of Ed Poullard and Ray Guidry and the fine steel
guitar work of Ellis Vanicor. Their material includes a few originals and a
lot of tracks harking back to the old days of giants like Austin Pitre and
Nathan Abshire. Wonderful stuff. (FS) |
| MACHITO & SALSEROS | Pablo 2625 712-2 | Mucho Macho Machito | ● CD $16.98 | |
| 24 tracks, 70 minutes, essential. Machito (born Frank Raul Grillo) was one the pioneers who brought authentic Cuban music to the United
States in the 1930's and 1940's and fruitfully united it with American jazz.
Musical tastes were in flux in this country following World War II and
Machito's brand of Latin jazz appealed to many. He and his Afo-Cubans played
at New York's Town hall with Stan Kenton. He recorded with famous boppers
like Charlie Parker and Flip Phillips. This CD collects classic sides done
for Norman Granz' Clef label in 1948 and 1949. Machito leads the band,
sings, and plays maracas and claves. He is accompanied, most notably, by his
sister Graciela on vocals and by his musical director Mario Bauza on
trumpet. The song selection is as mixed as the musical styles, ranging from
mambos and rumbas to American standards like Tea for Two and St.
Louis Blues, making for an altogether delightful blend. (JV) |
| SAM MANNING | Jazz Oracle 8028 | Volume 1 : Recorded In New York, 1924-1927 | ● CD $14.98 | |
| 27 tracks, 78 mins, highly recommended First of two album
presenting the recordings of this brilliant performer from the West Indies.
Born in Trinidad he moved to England at the beginning of the first World War
and served in the British Army. He ultimately moved to the USA and settled
in New York in the 1920s where he became a popular performer on the New York
stage. He linked with other West Indian musicians like Cyril Montrose,
Gerald Clark, Lionel Belasco living in the area and also worked some
American jazz artists. Between 1924 and 1930 he made a series of wonderful
recordings - strongly based on West Indian melodies and lyrics but with
influences from the jazz and blue gaining popularity in their new homeland.
The result is a delightful collection that exhibit charm, humor and skilful
musicianship. Songs include Amba Cay La/ Baby/ Camilla/ Englerston Blues/
Bungo/ Sly Mongoose/ Brown Boy/ Go, I've Got Somebody Sweeter Than You/ Oh
Emily! and others. Sound quality is superb (John R.T. Davis - say no
more!) and the enclosed 28 page booklet is gorgeous with extensive notes by
John Cowley and Steve Shapiro, discographical info and a wonderful
collection of photos and other memorabilia. (FS) |
| SAM MANNING | Jazz Oracle 8029 | Volume 2 : Recorded In New York, 1927-1930 | ● CD $14.98 | |
| 25 tracks, 76 mins, highly recommended More exuberant and
delightful music from Manning and his cohorts including some delightful
comic dialogues between Manning and Anna Freeman accompanied by jazz/ blues
piano player Porter Grainger which bring to mind the humorous duets of
Butterbeans & Susie. Also includes Bongo/ Lignum Vitae/ Bouncing Baby
Boy/ Sweetie Charlie/ Lieutenant Julian/ Barbados Blues/ I'm Going Your
Way/ Back To My West Indian Home/ Sinking Of The Kate Esau and more.
(FS) |
| PUCHO & HIS LATIN SOUL BROTHERS | BGP CDBGPD 047 | Heat/ Jungle Fire | ● CD $16.98 | |
| 14 tracks, 73 minutes, Highly Recommended Although Henry "Pucho"
Brown was born in Harlem and grew up listening to rhythm and blues, he was
also taken with the latin sounds emanating from nearby Spanish Harlem.
Inspired by Tito Puente, he took up the timbales and got in on the ground
floor of latin soul, an infectiously danceable mixture of African-American
soul and jazz and latin musical styles. He recorded seven excellent LPs for
Prestige in the 1960's. This music returned and was much sampled in the
1990's as acid jazz and made Pucho a star once again, first in Britain and
then in the U.S. This CD presents two of those fine 1960's Prestige albums.
(JV) |
| ABE SCHWARTZ | Columbia 86321 | The Klezmer King | ● CD $11.98 | |
| 25 tracks, 79 mins, highly recommended. Wonderful collection
of klezmer music featuring one of the legendary figures in the genre -
fiddler, composer and bandleader. The recordings made between 1917 and 1935
feature him in a variety of setting ranging from a duo with his daughter
Sylvia on piano to 12 piece orchestras. His groups are also featured
accompanying vocalists Abraham Moskowitz, Irving Grossman as well as
clarinetists Dave Tarras, Phillip Greenberg and Naftule Brandwein.
Selections here were mastered from newly minted 78s pressed from original
metal parts and sound is superb. Booklet includes notes by klezmer expert
Henry Sapoznik. (FS) |
| SONORA MATANCERA | Harlequin HQ CD 79 | Live On The Radio, 1952-58 | ● CD $16.98 | |
| 23 tracks, 77 minutes, essential Sonora Matancera is Cuba's
oldest (founded in 1924) and best-known musical group (Celia Cruz got her
big break with them). They are still performing and recording today, but the
sides on this CD are taken from Havana radio acetates recorded during their
heyday in 1950's pre-Castro Cuba. Because these were radio transcriptions,
they were not restricted by the three minute limit for 78's, so you hear
more instrumental solos than you would on commercial recordings. These
tracks feature a number of excellent vocalists (notably Bienvenido Granda).
(JV) |
| DAVE TARRAS & THE MUSIKER BROTHERS | Epic/ Legacy EK 86320 | Tanz! | ● CD $11.98 | |
| Reissue of rare 1955 album featuring the master of the
klezmer clarinet with an exciting group including Sam Musiker/ clarinet,
Ramon Musiker/ reeds, Melvin Solomon/ trumpet and others doing imginative
arrangements of traditional and original tunes. This CD release features two
previously unissued alternate takes and comes with a 12 page illustrated
booklet with extensive notes by klezmer expert Henry Sapoznik. |
| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Columbia C2K 86323 | From Avenue A To The Great White Way | ● CD $19.98 | |
| Two CD set. A wonderful compilation featuring a glimpse into
the impact of Jewish (and more specifically Yiddish) culture on popular
music in America including artists from the Yiddish musical theatre, klezmer
performers, cantorial music, Yiddish popular songs along with artists like
Slim Gaillard incorporating Jewish food into his crazy Matzoh Balls
and Cab Calloway doing his version of an old Yiddish songs Utt-Da-Zay.
There are a number of unissued performances including a 1914 performance of
Irving Berlin singing What Am I Gonna Do?. Includes 14 page booklet
with informative notes from compiler Henry Sapoznik and some wonderful
period photos. |
| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Fremeaux & Associates 157 | Cuba, 1923-1995 | ● CD $29.98 | |
| 37 tracks, 118 minutes, Highly Recommended In their
inimitable style Fremeaux & Associates have done the seemingly
impossible-assembled a balanced and comprehensive survey of twentieth
century Cuban music, from its African and folkloric roots through the
bolero, son, conga, mambo, cha cha cha, latin jazz and salsa to today's
world music. The dance crazes of the passing decades are tracked as are the
innovative musicians and band leaders, from bassist and composer Ignacio
Pineiro in the twenties and thirties to singer Antonio Machin in the
thirties to band leaders Machito and Perez Prado in the forties and fifties
to pianist Bola de Nieve in the sixties all the way up to pianists Frank
Emilio and Chucho Valdes in the nineties. Listening to an anthology of this
sweep one is struck by the underlying continuities in the music beneath all
the surface changes. (JV) |
| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Harmless HURTCD 025 | Broasted Or Fried Latin Breakbeats, Basslines & Boogalo | ● CD $19.98 | |
| 14 tracks, 54 minutes, Highly Recommended The title of this
CD refers to two ways of cooking chicken (broasting is a cross between
broiling and roasting) and the grooves it provides offer tasty soul food
samples for the ears, a gourmet selection of funky latin New York dance
music of the late sixties and early seventies. You can break out your old
dance moves and shingaling, boogaloo, and funky dance to the rhythms of East
Harlem. Performers include legends like Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaria, as
well as younger players like Joe Bataan and Harlem River Drive. A blast from
the age before Disco. (JV) |
| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Rhino 75209 | !Sabroso! | ● CD $16.98 | |
| 18 tracks, 75 minutes, essential The Rhino people sure know
how to put together compilations! This is an excellent introduction to
Afro-Latin music (a combination of traditional Latin, jazz and soul music)
and features classic sides, mainly recorded in the 1960's, by giants of the
genre, such as Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria,˙ Cal Tjader, and Willie Bobo).
If you have an interest in this music, but don't know where to start, this
is the place. (JV) |
| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Sharp Wood SWP 015 | Origins Of Guitar Music In Southern Congo & Northern Zambia | ● CD $15.98 | |
| Wonderful collection of singing with acoustic guitar
accompaniments recorded by famed musicologist Hugh Tracey made on field
trips in 1950, '51, '52, '57 and '58. The recordings made in The Congo.
Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe are diverse and includes performances strongly
rooted in the traditional xylophone music as well as performances strongly
influenced by American music as well as all variations in between. Mostly
recorded in the mining communities it includes a couple of performers who
later went on to make a name for themselves - Mwenda Jean Bosco and Goerge
Sibanda. The performances are haunting and melodic and set comes with 24
page booklet with extensive notes and great photos from the trips. |
| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Trikont 0293 | Rembetika - Songs Of The Greek Underground | ● CD $22.98 | |
| Wonderful two CD set featuring the Greek equivalent of the
blues - rembetika. 45 tracks recorded between 1925 and 1947 featuring some
of the music's greatest singers and instrumentalist. It is like blues in a
number ways, perhaps most significantly in mood, gutsiness, and social
origins in a tough and often bloodily hostile setting. Among the featured
performers are Anestis Delias, Rosa Eskenazi, Markos Vamvakris, Spiros
Perisetris, Andonis Dalgas, Kostas Nouros, Jiorgos Batis, Evangelos
Papazoglou, Rita Ambadsi, Anestis Delias, A. Kostis & others. Sound quality
is generally excellent and there extensive notes, in German, unfortunately
but there are also very brief synospes of the performances in English. |
| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Wrasse 036 | Natural Jazz - The Jazz Makers | ● CD $17.98 | |
| A 22 track collection alternating American jazz artists and
South African jazz artists. The former include Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz,
Louis Armstrong, Stephane Grapelli, Dinah Washington & Brook Benton, Billie
Holiday, etc and the latter includes Miriam Makeba, Father Huddleston Band
with Hugh Masekela, The Elite Swingsters, Dorothy Masuka, The Manhattan
Brothers and others. |