Cal Tjader and Bernard Purdie

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**Dynamite Mambo/Blues hybrid from 1958, backed with a funked-up 1972 remake for the adult cartoon 'Fritz The Cat' featuring Bernard Purdie on the drummers' stool. Aces!** "The amalgamation of latin music into the domestic jazz scene in '40s and '50s USA has been well documented. For some jazzers a touch of latin was simply a tool to add some spice to yet another blues standard, while for others the excitement and energy they discovered in latin music became a deep-seated passion that was to last a lifetime. For Cal Tjader, a vibraphonist of Swedish-American heritage based in California, the latter was most certainly the case. In 1958 the mambo craze was in full swing. The fresh, exciting sound of Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria and countless others was heard in nightclubs and ballrooms throughout New York and the West Coast. Tjader, one of the few vibes players in latin jazz, was contracted to Fantasy Records in California, where in 1958 he cut the frenzied, frenetic & hectic 'Mamblues'. Even the superslick jazz dancers of today struggle to keep up, but that's all part of the fun. Tjader was certainly on point when he hammered it out, mallets ablaze, but not a note out of place. A truly amazing piece of hot bangin' latin jazz!" User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

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