The Best of Cal Tjader: Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival 1958-1980

Performer: Cal Tjader
Engineer: Don Geis
Producer: Jason Olaine; Nick Phillips
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Cal Tjader (vibraphone, percussion); Roger Glenn (flute); Buddy DeFranco (clarinet); Jerome Richardson (soprano saxophone); Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); John Lewis, John G. Lewis, Vince Guaraldi (piano); Frank Strazzeri, Mark Levine , Michael Wolff (electric piano); John Heard , Al McKibbon, Richard Davis , Rob Fisher, Harvey Newmark (bass instrument); Dick Berk, Willie Bobo (drums, drum, timbales); Vince Lateano (drums, drum); Roy Burns (drum); Michael Smithe, Mongo Santamar�a, Poncho Sanchez, Armando Peraza (congas). Recording information: Monterey Jazz Festival (10/04/1958-09/19/1980). Authors: Tim "T-Bone" Jackson; Jason Olaine. Photographer: Ray Avery. The late Cal Tjader, while not of Latin extraction, was one of the most popular exponents of Latin jazz ever. Both on stage and in the studio, from the late 1950s to his 1982 death, Tjader's vibraphone dazzled and danced in the gray area where jazz (both hot and cool) and Latin, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian sounds overlapped. This disc collects material from live performances at the illustrious Monterey Jazz Festival from select years between 1958 and 1980. It's not only a great overview of Tjader, but also of a large chunk of jazz history. Among the fabulous musicians playing with the vibes master are Mongo Santamaria, Buddy DeFranco, Dizzy Gillespie, and Poncho Sanchez.

Because he was a crossover success, vibraphonist/percussionist Cal Tjader received his share of derision from both sides of the jazz/Latin fence. However, his sincere interest in Latin rhythms and their potential for blending with cool jazz led to a groundbreaking fusion of the two, and a genuine hit with the tune "Soul Sauce" in 1965. An important conduit between the two styles, he helped bring percussionists Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo to a much wider audience. With practically a life lived on tour, it's almost fitting he was on the road (in the Phillipines) when he passed away at 56 in 1982.

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