Search - Eddie Cano :: Cole Porter Duke Ellington & Me

Cano at last!

Brian H. Williams | Manteca, CA United States | 06/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Eddie Cano started with Cal Tjader as his pianist and arranger. Sadly, Cano has become a faded memory in the jazz world. He had numerous recordings for RCA, Reprise and GNP. Amazingly, this is the only album RCA has chosen to release and the only Cano album on the market. If you want more Cano, buy the Cal Tjader album "Latino." This album has Cano's big band, his compositions and his arrangments for Tjader. Eddie Cano is best known for his version of A Taste of Honey. Cano hails from Mexico and is a brilliant arranger, much like his counterpart from Mexio, Esquivel. This album, focuses on the afro-cuban rhythms Cano is known for. The selections are top rate and the arrangements are highly original. Those of you who are familiar with the Duke Ellington masterpiece "Prelude to A Kiss" will be in for a surprise when you hear this arrangement. This is without question, the most original, imaginative arrangement one is likely to hear. Using only latin percussion and trombones to augment his piano, the song, which is a ballad, is played faster and with a strong latin beat. The trombones play the beginning of the melody then is finished with Cano's piano. I'm willing to go as far to say that this is possibly one of the finest versions of this song ever recorded. One has to hear it to believe it. Rather than taking the main melody and improvising with a new one based on the song's chord progression, he keeps the melody flowing and uses the latin rhythm to keep it exciting. This album is worth buying for this recording alone. The Cano originals are highly enjoyable too. If you know the great tunes he wrote for Cal Tjader, then you already know to expect great melody from Cano. My favorite one on this album is "Cotton Candy." Not be confused with the Al Hirt song of the same name. The Porter selections are also outstanding as well. It just goes to show how well suited Cole Porter melodies are to latin rhythms. Do yourself a favor and purchase this album. Once you know Eddie Cano, you will want to hear more of his recordings."

The Great Eddie Cano

Dell Bourne | Bountiful, Utah United States | 06/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The original album was released in the late 50's and many in the Salt lake area couldn't get enough of him.His original piece "Cotton Candy" won wide acclaim here and in the Las Angules area, I saw him live twice in L.A. and found out later he was a friend of my cousin in Long Beach but never got to meet him.It's really sad that this type of real music went by the wayside for the garbage they play today.I know that anyone who buys this album will surely be well pleased with their purchase."

Cano cooks

B. London | Chicago | 03/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Eddie Cano led a swinging jazz combo in Hollywood called PJ's where he was a favorite of the glamourous movie and jet set. He died way to young but he performed, arranged,wrote and led Latin Jazz trios,sextets and Machito sized big bands. He also performed with Cal Tjader and lent a groovy piano sound to his recordings. In short, Cano is terrific in all settings and his piano playing while Latin tinged a la Eddie Palmiero is just a gas man. Dig anything you can find from him."