SABU Martinez-JAZZ ESPAGNOLE-LATIN JAZZ MASTERPIECE-NEW LP

$

38

Sabu "Jazz Espagnole" new LP
NEW LP
SABU "JAZZ ESPAGNOLE"
LATIN JAZZ MASTERPIECE!
REISSUE

"In Guinea, Sabu means "the cause of something"... Well, here you go! While he is recording Jazz Espagnole, Sabu Martinez is making history. He doesn't know it, yet!

 Born in Spanish Harlem in 1930 Louis Martinez began being known as a "conguero" when he joined Joe Loco and the Lecuona Cuban Boys in 1947. When Chano Pozo died, he flew to NYC to ask Dizzy Gillespie if he could be his new conguero. Dizzy said yes. “I stayed about nine months with the band and that's when I cut my first recordings." Gillespie gave him the nickname Sabu.

 From 1949 to 1958 Sabu worked with drummer Art Blakey with whom he recorded several albums. In 1957 he founded his quintet and recorded the albums Palo Congo, Safari, and Sorcery. Then came Jazz Espagnole (1960) with a sextet.

 Shortly after the release of this album, when mentioning Sabu and his music, DJs at radio stations in the U.S. got used to say: "…and now let's listen to a Sabu's composition on his last latin jazz recording." Since then, everybody will automatically translate Jazz Espagnole by Latin jazz, and this new name will end up replacing the term Afro-Cuban jazz.

 Jazz Espagnole is a latin jazz must. Sabu has a unique crisp sound; partly so since he was left-handed. In this album we hear the influences of Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, and Chico O'Farrill. There is the fiercy The Oracle and the nostalgic Delilah  with brilliant solos by Marty Sheller and delicate interventions by pianist Arty Jenkins. Breakin' It In, Flamenco Ain't Bad and Woody'n You are set for inspired solos by sax alto Bobby Porcelli. Louie Ramirez is a subtle percussionnist all along. And most interesting are four short original solo pieces by Sabu.

 This reissue celebrates the 25th anniversary of his death, and yes, indeed, Sabu means "the cause of something”... "

"A masterpiece! We can say without hesitation that this is perhaps the finest-ever album of Latin jazz, and one of the very few records to ever realize the true potential of the form. Nobody gets bogged down in charts and arrangements that are too heavy to swing, and instead the whole band is free and wild, and solos a lot over Sabu's heavy conga and Louie Ramirez's driving percussion. In addition to the percussion, the small combo on the record features trumpet solos by Marty Sheller and alto work by Bobby Porcelli -- both of them great, and unsung heroes of the 60s New York Latin scene. Cuts include "The Oracle", "Breakin' It In", "Flipping", "Otra Vez", and lots lots more great ones! "

 

Intro - :25 (Sabu)

The Oracle - 4:47 (Louie Ramirez)

Remember Carmen - 4:42 (Louie Ramirez)

Delilah - 4:15 (Victor Young)

Breakin' it in - 4:07 (Marty Sheller)

Flipping - :21 (Sabu)

Otra Vez - :18 (Sabu)

Flamenco Ain't Bad - 4:17 (Louie Ramirez)

Woody'n You - 4:57 (Dizzy Gillespie)

Enchantment - 4:15 (Horace Silver)

Nica's Dream - 6:28 (Horace Silver)

Coda - :15 (Sabu)