If it hadn't been for the packaging, it might have been years before I heard Cal Tjader. A long time ago, picking through things at a garage sale, I eyed an LP on Creedence's label (Fantasy) with a cool illustration on the cover and red vinyl to boot. I didn't know who the fuck Cal Tjader was. Just being on Creedence's label was enough of a selling point. That's how long ago it was, probably early seventies. No interest whatsoever in jazz, Latin or otherwise. But it was cheap and I brought it home. Vibraphone. Latin Percussion. File under "what the fuck is this?". Somehow, just by having it laying around I became friends with that LP. Cal Tjader's been my go-to vibes guy ever since. I didn't even realize it was linked to jazz.
Tjader was no stranger to doing covers of pop songs, or rock 'n' roll for that matter. Listen to his breezy take on the Jackson Five's "Never Can Say Goodbye". It's practically lounge music. Now listen to his cover of the Stones' "Gimme Shelter". He's got wah-wah, a theremin and all sorts of shit going on. Unusual covers nonwithstanding Tjader's Latin stuff, what he's known for, is the shit, particularly the early sixties stuff. Check "Afro Blue" with Willie Bobo and Mongo Santamaria. It's as good a Tjader gets. I lucked out at that garage sale.
~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~
Listen:Cal Tjader - Lucero mp3 at Internet Archive
Cal Tjader - Linda Chicana mp3 at DRB's Blog
Cal Tjader - Philly Mambo (live) mp3 at DM Reed
Cal Tjader - Soul Sauce (live) mp3 at Internet Archive
Cal Tjader - Armando's Hideaway mp3 at Aida-E (?)
Cal Tjader - Never Can Say Goodbye mp3 at Internet Archive
Cal Tjader - Gimme Shelter (streaming) at YouTube
Cal Tjader - Afro Blue (streaming) at YouTube
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