Los Ritmos Calientes

by Cal Tjader

Product Description:

Personnel: Cal Tjader (vibraphones, timbales); Gerald Sanfino (alto saxophone, flute); Jose "Chombo" Silva (tenor saxophone); Jerome Richardson (flute); Eddie Cano, Vince Guaraldi, Manuel Duran (piano); Richard Wyands (piano, percussion); Bobby Rodriguez, Eugene Wright (bass); Al McKibbon (bass, congas); Al Torres (drums); Armando Peraza (conga, bongos); Ramon "Mongo" Santamaria (congas); Bayardo Velarde (bongos, percussion); Armando "Cuco" Sanchez, Willie Bobo, Luis Kant (percussion).

Tracks 1-13 originally released as RITMO CALIENTE on Fantasy (3216), and tracks 14-23 on MAS RITMO CALIENTE on Fantasy (3262). Includes original release liner notes by Ralph J. Gleason.

Digitally remastered by Phil De Lancie (1992, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).

When Cal Tjader recorded RITMO CALIENTE in 1954, he was already established as a respected Latin jazzman, enjoying popularity as a vibes player rivaling that of Red Norvo. However RITMO CALIENTE and its follow-up, MAS RITMO CALIENTE (the two albums are presented here on one CD), secured Tjader's position in jazz history as one of the finest fusion artists. The emphasis here may be on rhythm, but Tjader and his band's skillful phrasing are striking.

The Latin craze was in full swing in the States, with Desi Arnaz and Tito Puente both on the charts. But Tjader's music was on an entirely different plane. His music was high art, incorporating Latin percussion to create subtle, atmospheric rhythms. His artistry, together with the jazz experiments of such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Charles Mingus, brought jazz fusion to public attention. These recordings paved the way for the future fusion experiments of such artists as Miles Davis and Carlos Santana.