Musicians: Cal Tjader, vibraphone. Various guest artists.
Review: Cal Tjader (1925-1982) was/is primarily known as a
Latin-Jazz vibraphonist/bandleader, but one disc of this
2-albums-on-2-CDs reissue features a rarely-heard side of him:
a straight-ahead jazz ballad context. Disc 2, recorded in 1981
and originally available on LP as The Shining Sea, is a
gorgeous set of ballads featuring a couple of experts in the
field of balladry: Hank Jones and Scott Hamilton. Tjader has a
mellow, easygoing side, as natural and unhurried as breathing:
witness “Don’t Look Back.” Tjader, along with Hank Jones, is
one of those jazz players who values melody and warmth, and
doesn’t feel the need to “dazzle” the listener constantly with
too many notes, too much “information” (that “less is more”
theorem again). Hamilton is his usual lush, breathy self,
maintaining the “romantic” side of the tenor tradition (i.e.,
Lester Young, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims). The only real uptempo
tune here is “Theme From MASH,” a fine, brooding Johnny
Mandel tune given, alas, a somewhat corny treatment. That
aside, this particular Sea’s waters are soothing indeed
(without being sleep-inducing, of course). Disc One, Gozame!
Pero Ya from 1980 however, is a different story: the
better-known side of Tjader, the non-Latin bandleader
specializing in fusing bop and cool with Afro-Cuban and Latin
rhythms and melodies. Featured here are vivacious flute of
Roger Glenn, the ultra-mellow guitar of Mundell Lowe and the
suave, percolating and tasteful percussion of Poncho
Sanchez. The program consists mostly of standards – “Bye
Bye Blues,” “This Is Always” – given a balmy Latinate
treatment. Nothing transcendent here, just lots of stress-free,
classy music-making, perfect for sipping banana daiquiris on
the veranda while you watch the sun set.
JazzReview.com
