Descarga

Performer: Cal Tjader
Engineer: Gary Stauffer; Mike Fusaro
Distributor: Ryko Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Cal Tjader, Luis Gasca, Pat Houston, Bill Perkins, Mel Martin, Al Zulaica, Ron McClure, Phil Escovedo, Dick Berk, John Heard, Pete Escovedo, Michael Smithe, Coke Escovedo. Recorded in 1972. Personnel: Cal Tjader (vibraphone, percussion); Pete Escovedo (vocals, congas, bongos, guiro, percussion); Coke Escovedo (vocals, timbales); Mel Martin (flute, saxophone); Bill Perkins (saxophone); Frank Snow , Luis Gasca (trumpet); Al Zulaica (electric piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Dick Berk, Lee Charlton (drums). Audio Remixer: Jim Stern. Recording information: Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA (1971-1972); Funky Quarters, San Diego, CA (1971-1972). Arranger: Al Zulaica. Descarga is a merger of two albums recorded near the beginning of the '70s -- the fascinating studio session Aqua Dulce and the self-explanatory Live at the Funky Quarters. Having not yet lost his yen for adventure from the Verve days, Tjader neatly integrates Al Zulaica's Rhodes electric piano, electronic effects, and occasionally horns and voices into a bedrock Latin format, and the combination works even at its most outlandish. Two of the reasons why Aqua Dulce stays on track are the solid Latin percussion team of Pete and Coke Escovedo and Michael Smithe, and that Tjader's rippling, to-the-point, easily adaptable vibraphone manner hadn't changed a whit over the years. The title track, "Agua Dulce (Cool Ade)," is a lot of fun, with its electronic bubbling and straight Latin grooves, and Cal even tackles the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter," adding pink noise and spacy obligatos from an early Moog synthesizer. Much of the live portion of the CD -- recorded at a San Diego nightclub in 1972 -- has a sound tied even more closely to its time, with Zulaica's electric piano, John Heard's bass, and Dick Berk's drums often creating textures that evoke the jazz-rock era. Smithe's congas merely add punctuation, except when Tjader himself joins in on percussion, thus creating some Latin action. Nevertheless, this live gig is quite enjoyable and energetic, sprinkled with new material and updated Tjader standards like "Cubano Chant," "Manteca," and "Soul Sauce III (Guarachi Guaro)." On the CD release, "Theme" was deleted for lack of space, though the 78 & 1/2-minute disc remains generously packed. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Jazziz (12/95, p.90) - "...The sessions opened up to incendiary jams..."

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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