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Part II: Jazz Greats and Great Jazz: An Evolutionary Riff
Cal Tjader
More than any American jazzman of the ’60s and ’70s, Tjader (1925–1982)
was a vital creator of fresh Latin jazz. Cal Tjader’s contributions to Latin jazz
were twofold: He played melodic vibes that blended seamlessly with Latin
rhythms; and, as a leader, he selected great combinations of players and
Latin-flavored material.
He played with great Latin percussionists like Willie Bobo and Mongo
Santamaria and kept his Latin fascination going strong over the course of several
albums. His later works included Primo (Original Jazz Classics), Descarga
(Original Jazz Classics), La Onda Va Bien (Concord Picante), and A Fuego
Vivo (Concord Picante).
Check out 1954’s Tjader Plays Mambo (Original Jazz Classics) and subsequent
albums including Black Orchid (Fantasy), Latin Concert (Original Jazz
Classics), Latino (Fantasy), El Sonid Nuevo (Verve), and Primo (Original
Jazz Classics).
The Good Life: The Bossa 1960s
The reedy sound of saxophones and flutes fits naturally with Latin rhythms,
especially those from Brazil and other parts of South America. These instruments
are perfect for evoking the feeling of rain forests, complete with the
sound of waterfalls, screeching monkeys, and chirping birds. So it’s not surprising
that musicians have been adept at blending Latin elements into their
jazz. The most successful of these musicians are
� Saxophonists Stan Getz and Gato Barbieri
� Flutists like Herbie Mann, and, more recently, Dave Valentin
� Singer Astrud Gilberto, one of the first people to make a case for bossa
in the United States with her recording of “Girl from Ipanema”
Bossa Nova music was gentle, romantic, and set to the Cuban samba rhythm.
In the following sections, I introduce you to major bossa musicians of the
1960s.