Search - Cal Tjader :: Heat Wave

Let's Do the Cha, Cha, Cha

Peter | East of Los Angeles | 04/16/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is so infectious, it just makes you wanna get out of your chair and "boogie" to the music. I didn't think a jazz singer like Carmen McRae could pull off singing pop and latin tunes all grooved to a Latin beat, whether being cha cha, meringue or tango, but she pulls it off with flying colors. I would love the ballroom to play this CD, it's made for ballrooms with various styles of dance---Arthur Murray, eat your heart out! All 10 songs are grooved to slightly different Latin beat, but my favorite is her interpretation of Ellington's "Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me" and "Evil Ways". This is also a perfect CD to put on the player when you're doing housework chores or laundry because the music is so infectious, you hardly feel like you're working at all. Instead it just gets the blood pumping and flowing. Well done, Carmen and Cal!"

The BEST ever

75%Gringo25%Rican | 09/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cal Tjader was the king of latin jazz, and Carmen McRae was one of teh finest jazz singers ever! So naturally the two put together made for a sizzling jazz date. McRae's vocals are velvety riding smoothly on Tjader's hot vibes. The percussion is exellent, this is a great latin jazz vocal album. McRae & Tjader downright sizzle on Evil Ways!!! The whole labum sizzles with sensuality!"

Right on Carmen

W. Soule | Aylett, VA United States | 05/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Quite a few years ago I traveled to Wolf Trap in Washington DC to see Ella and Joe Pass in concert. When we arrived we found out the Ella had taken ill and Carmen would be fillin in. Well as you can imagine this story has a sad side and then a good side. It was unfortunate that Ella was sick but having Carmen was a real treat. She was funny, entertaining and the music was wonderful.



This is one of my favorite CDs by Carmen. The songs are right the voice is perfect and the players are right on. Everything blends in to make a near perfect cd. I believe this was Cal Tjaders last album before he died. The two are a perfect marriage. "Don't You Worry About A Thing" and "You've Got To Change Your Evil Ways" will give you goose bumps. They are THAT good as is the rest of the cd.



Carmen came along when Sara and Ella were the reigning queens of jazz, but next in line was Carmen. She has some wonderful albums that are now on Cds. This was her first for the Concord Label and they give her the royal treatment. The sound is great, the songs are great, the musicians are great. Add up all that and what do you get. A GREAT CD."