Since ‘the Jazz’ has shut down and moved to a 2hour slot on ClassicFM (midnight to 2.00am - Wow, thanks!) I’m now ironing to this litter of Latin lovelies (as it says on the box) 28 tracks of sheer unadulterated foot- tapping-scat-inducing-no-actual-ironing-being-done-too-busy-salsa-ing groovy tunefulness.
We’re treated to two offerings from Cal Tjader - the relentless pounding of percussion in overtime of ‘Shoshana’ and, featuring Willie Bobo and Mongo Santamaria, ‘Afro Blue’ - I defy you to keep still before transporting yourself to Rio with the infectious rhythm of Poncho Sanchez’s ‘Yumbambe‘.
If you’ve ever wondered what ‘Mas Que Nada’ means, Ella Fitzgerald kindly translates - forget football on the beach; think more a similar sounding cocktail! *Ahem* Meanwhile, George Benson, who some of you may only know via the likes of ‘In Your Eyes’, will have you shimmying without consent to Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’.
One of my all time favourite things, the dreamy and romantic samba of Seawind ‘He Loves You’ precedes Sergio Mendes, putting in an appearance with a hypnotic cha cha version of … ‘My Favourite Things’. Yes, THAT one!
And when you come to ‘Nature Boy’ by Alex Wilson, well, just put all thoughts of Nat King Cole back there - no, further back - there you go. Funky. Capital F. Following that, set your whistle to ‘Stun’ for Fourth World’s ‘Final Celebration’. You’ll know it when you hear it. Pompey fans will be singing it, hopefully not for another seven years like last time!
The ladies are represented on CD two with the sultry tones and funky ivory tickling of Latin diva Tania Maria on ‘No Ano Que Vem’; while you forget LA to New York and dream of Rio to Paradise, as Patsy Gallant sings ‘Te Caliente’ - without words!
Azymuth’s ‘Jazz Carnival’ was one of the first 12 inch vinyl records I bought - you see how I feel the need to explain what they are, showing my age - here we have an altogether different sound from them: ‘Tudo Due Voce Podia Ser’ featuring Nair Camdia, a smooth and gentle glide. Then you can salsa your butt off to the wonderful party song of Pete Escovedos ‘Cabo Frio’ - you’ll be ba-ba-ba-ing along before you can stop yourself. We end with another major artist from my youth, Bob Marley, being given the Merengada treatment on his ‘No Woman No Cry’. You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s Bob himself, the opening vocal retaining that Caribbean feel with pure South American rhythm.
If you loved Gethin and Camilla’s salsa music ‘Azucar’, you’ll love this CD. Real music, played from the heart and soul, you just can’t beat it. And an added bonus, I’ve now re-discovered on the internet not only Jazz Fm but Solar Radio too, a soul music station with a host of familiar names. (Possibly some of the original DJ’s when Horizon/Solar pirate stations were around) Definitely showing my age!
Full track listing:
CD1 -
1. Cal Tjader: Shoshana
2. Poncho Sanchez: Yumbambe
3. Snow boy & the Latin Section: Wild Spirit
4. Ella Fitzgerald: Mas Que Nada
5. Ray Barretto: La Cuna
6. Sarah Vaughan: Nothing Will Be As It Was
7. Duke Pearson and Flora Purim: Stormy
8. George Benson: Summertime
9. Seawind: He Loves You
10. Sergio Mendes: My Favourite Things
11. Paz feat. Frank Holder: Speak Low
12. Neos Original: Original Unlimited
13. Alex Wilson: Nature Boy
14. Fourth World: Final Celebration
CD2 -
1. Cal Tjader deat. Willie Bob & Mongo Santamaria: Afro Blue
2. Dom UM Ranao & Mr Hermano: Coisana 11
3. Tania maria: No Ano Que Vem
4. Pucho and the Latin Soul Brothers: Got Myself a Good Man
5. Patsy Gallant: Te Caliente
6. Ray Barretto and New World Spirit: Work Song
7. Azymuth feat. Nair Candia: Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser
8. Marcos Valle feat. Patricia Alvi: Cidade Aberto
9. Pete Escovedo: Cabo Frio
10. The Robin Jones Seven: Atlas
11. Quintetto X: The Jody Grind
12. The Subterraneans: A Night in Tunisia
13. Louis Berenius’ Coup E’tat: Last of the Aztecs
14. Merengada: No Woman No Cry
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