The Best Of The Concord Years [Digipak]

Performer: Cal Tjader
Artist: Carmen McRae; Hank Jones; Scott Hamilton
Producer: Frank Dorritie; Carl Jefferson; Carl E. Jefferson; Nick Phillips (Compilation); Nick Phillipos (Compilation)
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Cal Tjader (vibraphone); Cal Tjader; Mike Heathman, Mike Heathman (trombone); Marshall Otwell, Marshall Otwell (piano); Rob Fisher, Dean Reilly (double bass); Carmen McRae (vocals); Mundell Lowe (guitar); Gary Foster (flute, soprano saxophone); Roger Glenn (flute, percussion); Scott Hamilton (tenor saxophone); Al Bent (trombone); Mark Levine (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Hank Jones (piano); Vince Lateano (drums, percussion); Poncho Sanchez (congas, percussion); Ramon Banda (timbales, percussion). Liner Note Authors: Jesse "Chuy" Varela; Jesse Varela. Photographer: David Fischer. The late vibraphonist Cal Tjader was one of the pivotal figures who fused small-group jazz (both the cool and bebop varieties) with Afro-Cuban and Latin American styles. He helped expose Latin music to larger audiences worldwide and was even a seminal influence on the young Carlos Santana. Throughout his career, Tjader never stood still; his sizable catalog encompasses swing, funk, jazz-rock fusion, and hints of pop music along with those percolating, kinetic rhythms. His 1950s recordings for the Fantasy documented his formative years but his '60s Verve stint found the man getting down to (funky) business. Though he returned to Fantasy in the `70s, it was his later tenure with Concord that established Tjader as a jazz veteran, and he remained with the label until his death. Tjader continued to surround himself with first-rate sidemen and pursued his effervescent, buoyant synthesis until the very end.

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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