Brubeck a la Mode // Dave Brubeck (Fantasy Original Jazz Classics OJC-200)

Continuing with my habit of profiling Brubeck albums that are less-known, here's another rather obscure album that Brubeck appeared on.  Literally. The Music Tune:  One For The Kids Recorded:  May and June 1960 Personnel: Bill Smith-  Clarinet Dave Brubeck-  Piano Eugene Wright-  Bass Joe Morello-  Drums If Paul Desmond isn't on hand, and another horn [...]

Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus // Vince Guaraldi Trio (Fantasy 3337)

After much traveling, both planned and unplanned, I am back!  While I did obtain quite a lot of 'new' records during my travels, here's a favorite of mine that I got by traveling to the local record store in my own neck of the woods. The Music Tune:  Samba de Orpheus Tune:  Manha de Carnival [...]

Jazz At The Blackhawk // Cal Tjader (Fantasy 3241)

In addition to being infatuated with Latin music, Cal Tjader was a tasty straight-ahead jazz musician and one of the more famous jazz musicians to come from the West Coast.  A native of San Francisco, Cal's group was a frequent denizen of the jazz clubs in the Bay Area, and called one club in particular [...]

Vince Guaraldi, Bola Sete, And Friends // Vince Guaraldi (Fantasy 3356)

Most people probably wouldn't recognize the name Vince Guaraldi, but most people would immediately recognize his music that ran as the soundtrack to numerous Charlie Brown 'Peanuts' television specials.  From the classic Charlie Brown theme 'Linus and Lucy' to the Christmas standard 'Christmastime Is Here', Vince's music is loved by many, even if they don't [...]

Something Blue // Paul Horn, HiFi Jazz J615

West Coast jazz.  Maybe it's because I'm a Californian, but I think some of the most stimulating, consistently interesting jazz was made near the Pacific Ocean.  The glory days of West Coast jazz were the early 1950's, hitting their stride in the latter half of the 1950's, and they ended around 1960.  The West Coast [...]

Cal Tjader Quintet // Cal Tjader, Fantasy 3232

The Music Lullaby of Birdland // Cal Tjader Quintet.  Recorded 1956 Minor Goof // Cal Tjader Quintet. Recorded 1956 Cal Tjader - Vibraphone Manuel Duran - Piano Carlos Duran - Bass Luis Miranda - Conga Drums Bayardo Velarde - Timbales Ah, Cal Tjader.  My favorite vibraphone player and a fellow Californian.  A drummer-turned-vibraphone player, Callen [...]