Machito et son orchestre Afro-Cubain - Mambo a la Machito (Fontana, 19??, Cuba-USA)

Machito was a Cuban percussionist, singer and orchestra director, who was instrumental in merging afrocuban rhythms with jazz improvisations, resulting in the creation of a new genre: afrocuban jazz. 

The EP of today is an insane blast of exotic Cuban-mambo rhythms that will make move your skeleton like a possessed voodoo zombie: devilish percussion and spirited brass section. Just the way it has to be.

“Si Si – No No” is a casual sexual elegy, featuring the seductive voice of Machito’s foster sister Graciela Pérez-Gutierrez, commonly referred as The First Lady of Latin Jazz. “Mambo Mucho Mambo” is a cool interpretation of the seminal classic. “Negro Nanamboro” has diverse passages of Latin vibes, a must. These last three cuts contain vocals while “Oboe Mambo” is an instrumental with hot rhythm section featuring Mitch Miller as an oboe soloist.

Who said that records that played our grandparents weren’t good? This is awesome!

Tracks

A1. Si Si - No No (mambo) (Suazo)

A2. Mambo Mucho Mambo (Blanco)

B1. Negro Nanamboro (mambo) (Merceron)

B2. Oboe Mambo (Hernandez)

Personnel (no personnel is credited besides Mitch Miller, but I have found this in RYM)

Machito: vocals, maracas, claves

Mario Bauzá: trumpet

Graciela: vocals, claves

Paquito Davila: trumpet

Bobby Woodlen: trumpet

Eugene Johnson: alto saxophone

Freddy Skerritt: alto saxophone

José Madera: tenor saxophone

Leslie Johnakins: baritone saxophone

René Hernandez: piano

Roberto Rodriquez: bass

Ubaldo Nieto: timbales

Ralph Miranda: conga

Luis Miranda: conga

José Mangual: bongos

Mitch Miller: oboe in B2

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Al Cohn & Zoot Sims - Motoring Along (Discophon-Sonet Giants of Jazz, USA-Sweden, 1974)

For sure one the most successful symbiosis seen in the jazz universe. I guess there’s no need to introduce these two giants.

As I continued thinking about Sweden, this record has come to my mind –ok, beautiful blonde girls too-. But as far I’m concerned, this is a music blog.

What we find in the LP is an impressive selection of refined, smooth jazz, ideal for chilling and palate expensive liquor. Just perfect for that mood and highly enjoyable for both the jazz connoisseur and the aficionado.

Rhythm section is damn consistent and solid, providing the climax for the soloist phrasings. Horace Parlan at piano brings security and sane harmonization with its delightful tone and beautiful interludes (“Fallin’” shines) while Danish drummer Sven Erik Norregaard impresses with its precision and impeccable tempo. But it’s Danish bassist Hugo Rasmussen who raises the act with its conviction power. And Al and Zoot are impeccable in their melodic swing, interpenetrating themselves without losing their identity: a sane exercise of mutual respect.

The six cuts selected for the session include two Cohn originals (the bebop blast of “Stockholm-L.A.” and the romantic “Fallin’”), and four perfectly-picked standards like Parker’s “Yardbird Suite”, a gorgeous version of “My Funny Valentine”, the speedy “Motoring Along” and a particular interpretation of Bacharach-David “What the World Needs Now”.

A gentle, pleasing, delicate album, for sybarite palates.  

Tracks

A1. Stockholm - L.A. (Al Cohn)

A2. My Funny Valentine (Richard Rodgers)

A3. Yardbird Suite (C. Parker)

B1. Motoring Along (J. McGriff)

B2. Fallin' (Al Cohn)

B3. What the World Needs Now (Bacharach-David)

Personnel

Al Cohn and Zoot Sims: Saxes

Horace Parlan: Piano

Hugo Rasmussen: Bass

Sven Erik Norregaard: Drums

Rune Persson: Engineer

Rune Öfwerman: Producer

Recorded: November 25th, 1974

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Rune Gustafsson - Rune At The Top (BELTER, 1969, Sweden)

Rune Gustafsson was a Swedish jazz guitarist and composer, who played in his early times with famed clarinetist Putte Wickman and Arne Domnérus bands. He gained recognition in the seventies for composing Swedish film soundtracks like cult classic “The Man Who Quit Smoking. He also contributed in two Zoot Sims recordings.

This entry covers his second record, consisting on a bright ensemble of jazzy easy listening songs –as an exercise to get rid of the freezing climate in Sweden- where the acoustic concerto guitar is the main character.

There’s nothing outstanding yet it’s a really nice listening experience, especially for the relaxed and joyful mood it transpires. The guitar playing is pretty good and pleasant, in a Jim Hall way. As said, guitar is mainly acoustic with the exception of few tracks where he switches to electric. Rhythm section is well balanced in a sober way, including piano, bass and drums. Arrangements are very nice too, with satisfying string and brass sections.    

Most of the songs are jazzy covers of well-known pop songs like “California Soul”, “The Fool on the Hill”, “California Dreaming” and “The Look of Love”. There are three Jim Webb classics too. “Me on the See-Saw” is perhaps the most conventional jazz track of the album, a good one indeed.  

So don’t be fooled by the Swedish climate, here we have a delightful easy-listening record, just perfect for a laid-back mood contemplating the sunset!!!

Tracks

A1.California Soul (Nickolas Ashford-Valerie Simpson)

A2. Wichita Lineman (Jim Webb)

A3. The Fool on the Hill (John Lennon-Paul MacCartney)

A4. The Look of Love (Burt Bacharach-Hal David)

A5. Me on the See-Saw (Pugh Rogefeldt)

B1. Son of a Preacher Man (David John Hurley-Stephen Ronnie Wilkins)

B2. California Dreaming (John Phillips)

B3. Waltz-A-Nova (Bengt Hallberg)

B4. By the Time I Get to Phoenix (Jim Webb)

B5. Up-up and Away (Jim Webb)

Personnel

Rune Gustafsson: Guitars

Kjell Öhman: Piano

George Wadenius: Bass

John Christiensen: Drums

George Riedel: Arrangements

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