Search - Various Artists :: Gozar: Latin Grooves on Blue Note

Pre-Santana Latin Groove

Steven P. Lynn | Outside Tucson, Arizona | 05/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you want to see where Carlos Santana jumped out of, take a look at this terrific Afro-Cuban/Latin jazz sampler issued by Blue Note a couple of years ago. This music is all late 50's through 70's music recorded by Blue Note and its sister labels, and is a really good overview of what was going on at the time. I remember many of these artists frequently being featured at "The "Lighthouse" in Hermosa Beach, California, and they all put on great shows. Willie Bobo, The Jazz Crusaders, Bobby Hutcherson, Les McCann, and Candido among others. Sidemen include Hubert Laws, Herbie Mann and the bassist Al McKibbon. One great cut here is "Morning" by Clare Fischer, which I was totally ignorant of. Mr. Perlich, I did miss parts of Latin Jazz 101!
My one beef is the absence of Cal Tjader, but that must be a contractual matter rather than oversight by compiler Miles Perlich. Also, this could easily be a 2-CD issue, given the rapidly rising popularity of Afro-Latin music, and the great contributions of these legends."

Best latin jazz blend, all "old school"

Dimitri Hernandez | Woodstock, NY | 12/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a connoisseur of latin music you will not be disappointed. This is not the current "canned salsa" being served up in the "pre-fab" package that is thin and has no vitality. This is raw, exciting, and exquisitely played music that blends the old jazz experts with a cool latin groove.

"