Several Shades Of Jade/Breeze From The East

Performer: Cal Tjader
Producer: Creed Taylor
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: SEVERAL SHADES OF JADE and BREEZE FROM THE EAST were previously released as two separate LPs. SEVERAL SHADES OF JADE personnel: Cal Tjader, Ernie Royal, Clark Terry, Jimmy Raney. BREEZE FROM THE EAST personnel includes: Cal Tjader, Jerry Dodgion, Lonnie Hewitt, Dick Hyman, George Duvivier. Recorded in New York, New York in 1963. Personnel: Cal Tjader (vibraphone, xylophone); Jimmy Raney (guitar); Robert Maxwell (harp); Leo Kruczek, Arnold Eidus (violin); Charles McCracken (cello); Walter Levinsky (flute, woodwinds); George Berg (bass clarinet, bassoon); Irving Horowitz, L�on Cohen (oboe); Stanley Webb, Phil Bodner, Phil Kraus (woodwinds); Clark Terry, Ernie Royal (trumpet); Bob Northern (French horn); Urbie Green (trombone); Don Butterfield (tuba); Lalo Schifrin, Lonnie Hewitt (piano); Stan Applebaum (celesta); Dick Hyman (organ); Ed Shaughnessy (drums); Jack del Rio (congas, tambourine); Johnny Rae (timbales, percussion). Liner Note Author: Paul De Barros. Recording information: New York, NY (04/23/1963-11/26/1963); Webster Hall, New York, NY (04/23/1963-11/26/1963). Editor: Peter Pullman. Photographers: Irv Bahrt; Chuck Stewart. Unknown Contributor Role: Lalo Schifrin. Arrangers: Lalo Schifrin; Stan Applebaum. Prodded by producer Creed Taylor, Cal Tjader turned momentarily away from pure Latin jazz to explore some polystylistic fusions of East and West on a pair of 1963 Verve albums. The first, Several Shades of Jade, finds Tjader in the intriguing company of Lalo Schifrin, who provides some searching, delicate, challenging, and yes, grooving compositions and arrangements with an emphasis on Asian scales and things, but also eager to mix in other idioms, including Tjader's beloved Latin jazz. One is, as usual, often reminded of Schifrin's film music cues, but that is a sign of a strong sonic personality -- it's Schifrin, not any old film composer, that one recognizes, and Tjader solos fluidly and colorfully over the Argentinean's shifting big-band backdrops. CD annotator Paul de Barros pans Breeze from the East in unusually brutal terms -- give Verve credit; they didn't flinch -- but really, it's not half as bad as advertised, though some of the tourist-view Orientalisms and thwacking mid-'60s electric guitars remind one of a Peter Sellers comedy set in Hong Kong. Besides, when left some room on these AM airplay-length tracks, Tjader plays as splendidly as ever. Obviously, this is not going to be a basic Cal Tjader album, but aficionados will want to hear him in these unusual, sometimes bizarre settings. ~ Richard S. Ginell

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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