... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Sweet Latin licks from Clark Terry and Chico O'Farrill – cut in a mode that's very similar to O'Farrill's best Verve work of the 60s! The vibe is kind of a mod take on Afro Cuban sounds – not really Latin soul, but with a playful vibe that mixes together jazz and Latin with equal parts – letting Terry solo over the top with sweet trumpety licks, while Chico sets up a crack ensemble that features lots of horns, Latin percussion, and some tasty guitar! The mix of modes is plenty nice – not authentically Latin, but extremely groovy – and titles include "Joonji", "Que Sera", "Tin Tin Deo", "Spanish Rice", "Angelitos Negros", and "Happiness Is". CD

Sweet Latin licks from Clark Terry and Chico O'Farrill – cut in a mode that's very similar to O'Farrill's best Verve work of the 60s! The vibe is kind of a mod take on Afro Cuban sounds – not really Latin soul, but with a playful vibe that mixes together jazz and Latin with equal parts – letting Terry solo over the top with sweet trumpety licks, while Chico sets up a crack ensemble that features lots of horns, Latin percussion, and some tasty guitar! The mix of modes is plenty nice – not authentically Latin, but extremely groovy – and titles include "Joonji", "Que Sera", "Tin Tin Deo", "Spanish Rice", "Angelitos Negros", and "Happiness Is". LP, Vinyl record album

The great Latin arrangements of Chico O'Farrill meet the groovy production of late 60s Verve – and the result is an excellent album of groovy instrumentals that just won't quit! Chico's arranging skills are still in excellent shape here – and they're augmented by some very nice instrumentation that includes organs, Varitone sax, and electric guitar – from players who include Lennie Hambro, Seldon Powell, Grady Tate, Patato Valdes, and Candido. The record includes swinging Latin versions of 60s pop tracks like "A Man & A Woman", "Hip Hug Her", and "Georgy Girl" – as well as straighter Latin jazz on cuts like "Manteca", "Descarga Numero 1000", and "Llora Timbero". Very groovy, baby! LP, Vinyl record album

Very groovy work from Chico – still very Latin at the core, but with lots of light 60s touches on top, ala the work of Gary McFarland, or some of the other groove-conscious arrangers for Verve and Impulse! Players on the set include Art Farmer, Clark Terry, JJ Johnson, Seldon Powell, and Pat Rebillot – and there's a nice choppy approach to the tracks that keeps the whole thing fresh! Titles include "Live Oak", "Patcham", "Panache", "Green Moss", and "The Lady From Nine Flags". Very groovy cover, too – with images of ladies from around the world, illustrating the Nine Flags concept! LP, Vinyl record album

A killer Afro-Cuban set from Chico O'Farrill – very raw, with plenty of percussion! LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the beautiful long "Afro Cuban Jazz Suite"! Composed, arranged, and conducted by Arturo (Chico) O'Farrill the Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Big Band. Arturo O'Farrill, piano and musical director with John Benitez, Steve Berrios, Peter Brainin, Sam Burtis, Jimmy Cozier, Andy Gonzalez, Joe Gonzalez, Graciela, Roland Guerrero, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Matt Hilgenberg, Jack Jeffers, Victor Jones, Marshall McDonald, Mike Migliore, Michael Mossman, Mario Rivera, Jon Owens, Jim Seeley, Max Schsweiger, Gary Valente, and Papo Vasquez. CD

A great obscure session by the legendary Cuban arranger/bandleander Chico O'Farrill! The material is similar to some of the stuff that O'Farrill recorded for Verve in the early 50's – with lots of tight ensemble playing, and jazzy tinges set amdist Afro Cuban arrangements. Lots of the tracks are originals, and all the arrangements are by O'Farrill. Titles include "Tropical Jazz", "Mambotanga", "Hey Lolita", and "Adios Panama". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic! Chico O'Farrill did some great Latin work for Verve, Norgran, and Mercury over the years – but most of it was only released on 10" LPs, and has only been the province of collectors for a number of years. Now, though, this killer 2 CD set brings together a whopping 45 sides of Chico's best Latin material, and it does so in a handsome package with great notes and the kind of session information that you didn't even get with the originals! Includes both versions of "Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite", plus "Lamento", "Cachita", "Havana Special", "Taboo", "Duerme", "The Disappearance", "Cuban Blues", and loads loads more! This is the kind of thing that makes us love CD reissues! CD

A really unique little record from Chico O'Farrill – a real change from his usual Latin jazz, and a session that's almost more in a 70s electric jazz mode! The group here is a big one, but they have a really fluid feel – a sense of timing and groove that's a bit like some of the Dave Matthews-arranged work on Kudu and CTI – especially in the record's mix of electric and acoustic elements. There's a sound here that's polished, yet still quite soulful – almost like some of the bigger group Stanley Turrentine sessions of the 70s – but with trombone out in the lead as the main solo instrument. Titles include "Power Of Positive Swinging", "Wild Is The Jazz", "Super Chops", "All Stops", and "Procrastination". LP, Vinyl record album

Pianist Arturo O'Farrill leads the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra in a tribute to his father – the great Chico O'Farrill! Tracks include "Caravan", "Such Love", "Starry Nights", "Picadillo", "Cuban Blues", and "The Journey". CD

Amazing work from Gato Barbieri's legendary exploration of Latin American sounds for Impulse Records – a set that's heavy on Cuban influences, thanks to arrangements from the mighty Chico O'Farrill! The sound is sublime – a bit fuller than some of Gato's other albums in the run, but never with any slick or commercial styles – just more of a richness from O'Farrill's backings, matched perfectly by Barbieri's amazing tones on the tenor! There's a lot of Latin percussion in the backings – courtesy of Ray Mantill, Luis Mangual, and Ray Armando – and Eddie Martinez mixes in some sweet electric piano with his acoustic lines, deepening the soul of the record in a really 70s way. Titles include "Milonga Triste", "Lluvia Azul", "La Padrida", "Viva Emiliano Zapata", and "El Sublime" – the last of which is a good description of the record! CD

Amazing work from Gato Barbieri's legendary exploration of Latin American sounds for Impulse Records – a set that's heavy on Cuban influences, thanks to arrangements from the mighty Chico O'Farrill! The sound is sublime – a bit fuller than some of Gato's other albums in the run, but never with any slick or commercial styles – just more of a richness from O'Farrill's backings, matched perfectly by Barbieri's amazing tones on the tenor! There's a lot of Latin percussion in the backings – courtesy of Ray Mantill, Luis Mangual, and Ray Armando – and Eddie Martinez mixes in some sweet electric piano with his acoustic lines, deepening the soul of the record in a really 70s way. Titles include "Milonga Triste", "Lluvia Azul", "La Padrida", "Viva Emiliano Zapata", and "El Sublime" – the last of which is a good description of the record! LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent gimmick from the United Artists label – a way of mixing their strong run of 60s soundtrack hits with the world of jazz – thanks to Count Basie and his group taking on a whole host of themes from the successful James Bond films! Count Basie brings a soulful swing to the work of John Barry, who scored most of these cuts – hitting hard on the tracks with his own smoking piano, and an orchestra filled with some of his best players – including Al Grey on trombone, Eric Dixon on saxes, and Freddie Greene on guitar – plus guest tenor work from Eddie Lockjaw Davis, an artist who wasn't credited on the session at he time. Arrangements are by Chico O'Farrill and George Williams – and titles include "Thunderball", "From Russia With Love", "007", "Girl Trouble", and "Goldfinger". LP, Vinyl record album

A wicked lost album of righteous funk and poetic knowledge from the great Gary Byrd! Gary began his life as a soul DJ in New York, but by the early 70s, he was using his rich voice to create recordings designed to educate as much as entertain. That said, the album is as funky as it is strident, and innovatively soulful – it's got raw and heavy drums and horns the burst in, but there's also roomier, slinkier grooves created to frame Byrd's voice and mood. The arrangements are by Chico O'Farrill and he really delivers. Gary Byrd's storytelling and spoken delivery leads the way, though – righteousness without bitterness, angry yet agreeable – truly brilliant and unique work! Titles include "To You Beautiful Black Sister", "If The People Only Knew (Power To The People)", "Shining Black Prince", "Country Preacher", and "How Long My People" and more. This great 2011 CD edition from Get On Down includes the bonus "Soul Travelin' Pt I (The GBE)" and "Soul Travelin' Pt I (The GBE)". CD

A rare Latin outing from trumpeter Art Farmer – one that has him working with the mighty Cuban arranger Chico O'Farrill! The grooves here are hardly "Aztec", as Chico brings a hip postwar vibe to the session – a blend of American jazz and Latin rhythms that's totally great, and played by an all-star array of players conducted by Al Cohn! Side one of the record features the extended "Aztec Suite" – an ambitious number that begins with modern moments that are somewhere in a space between Stan Kenton and Ralph Burns' experiments of this nature, but which always has Farmer's trumpet as the center focus. Side two features tracks that are a bit more conventional Latin jazz – still played by the bigger group, but with an even stronger sense of swing! Titles include "Aztec Suite", "Heat Wave", "Drume Negrita", "Alone Together", "Woody N You", and "Delirio". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare Latin outing from trumpeter Art Farmer – one that has him working with the mighty Cuban arranger Chico O'Farrill! The grooves here are hardly "Aztec", as Chico brings a hip postwar vibe to the session – a blend of American jazz and Latin rhythms that's totally great, and played by an all-star array of players conducted by Al Cohn! Side one of the record features the extended "Aztec Suite" – an ambitious number that begins with modern moments that are somewhere in a space between Stan Kenton and Ralph Burns' experiments of this nature, but which always has Farmer's trumpet as the center focus. Side two features tracks that are a bit more conventional Latin jazz – still played by the bigger group, but with an even stronger sense of swing! Titles include "Aztec Suite", "Heat Wave", "Drume Negrita", "Alone Together", "Woody N You", and "Delirio". LP, Vinyl record album

Groundbreaking Latin Jazz – and an essential 2LP set! The album brings together classic work for Norman Granz' Verve and Clef labels in the cubop mode – including Dizzy Gillespie's Manteca Suite, Machito's Afro-Cuban Suite, titles by Chico O'Farrill, and others recorded in 1949 and arranged by Rene Hernandez. Players include Machito, Charlie Parker, Diz, Mario Bauza, Eddie Bert, Flip Phillips, Chano Pozo, and Jos Mangual – and the quality of the work unifies the sessions wonderfully, even though they were recorded separately over a 5 year period. LP, Vinyl record album

Arranged and conducted by Chico O'Farrill. LP, Vinyl record album

Crack Latin from trombonist Papo Vazquez – one of the strongest sets we've ever heard from Cubop Records, a label that's always pretty darn great! Vazquez' vision here is quite strong – working with a big group to craft some tunes that are surprisingly lean while still managing to be deep and evocative. Papo's horn is at the lead – working in in a style that seems to stretch back to older work by Chico O'Farrill, but which also pushes on in a combination of Puerto Rican salsa and west coast Latin jazz. A really great set throughout – with titles that include "Stuffy Turkey", "Las Torres", "Mundo Bizarro", "Carnival In San Juan", "Vianda Con Bacalao", "Carlitos Coco", and "Snow Angel". CD

Amazing work from Gato Barbieri's legendary exploration of Latin American sounds for Impulse Records – a set that's heavy on Cuban influences, thanks to arrangements from the mighty Chico O'Farrill! The sound is sublime – a bit fuller than some of Gato's other albums in the run, but never with any slick or commercial styles – just more of a richness from O'Farrill's backings, matched perfectly by Barbieri's amazing tones on the tenor! There's a lot of Latin percussion in the backings – courtesy of Ray Mantill, Luis Mangual, and Ray Armando – and Eddie Martinez mixes in some sweet electric piano with his acoustic lines, deepening the soul of the record in a really 70s way. Titles include "Milonga Triste", "Lluvia Azul", "La Padrida", "Viva Emiliano Zapata", and "El Sublime" – the last of which is a good description of the record! LP, Vinyl record album

Believe it or not, this is a crackling batch of Latin jazz tracks, featuring the alto solos of Charlie Parker and (more importantly) the arranging genius of the great Chico O'Farrill. The material was originally issued on a number of different 10" jazz LPs – some under Parker's name, some under Machito's name – and this beautifully packaged CD does an excellent job of bringing all the material together in an excellent way. Parker's sound is amazingly intense, and it's driven to new and different heights by the pounding Latin rhythms of the group. The CD includes the full 17 minute version of O'Farrill's "Afro Cuban Suite", plus the shorter tracks "Un Poquito De Tu Amor", "Estrellita", "Mango Mangue", and "Okiedoke". Great great great stuff, and the kind of "jazz meets Latin" session that blows away any expectations you might have! CD

A fantastic look at one of the biggest contributions that Cuba ever made to music in the 20th Century – the rise of the jam session and descarga scene in Havana right before the revolution – a moment that saw an already-great style get even better in the hands of a few key musicians! Afro-Cuban sounds were nothing new to that city, but as the 50s moved on, the players on the scene adopted lots of influences from American jazz – and were really opening up in ways that were as open and expressive as they were fiercely collaborative – moving past the idea of a tighter ensemble with a star leader, and instead bringing together smaller groups with soloists that really got lots of space to do their thing – as did the percussionists, who really drive the music here! Most of the tracks feature some sort of vocals, but also have plenty of standout solos too - and the set features a huge amount of tracks by Cachao in his prime, plus lots more by Julio Gutierrez, Walfredo De Los Reyes, Rolando Aquila, Fajaro, Nino Rivera, and Chico O'Farrill – served up here with a total of 55 tracks on 3CDs. CD

Amazing work from Gato Barbieri's legendary exploration of Latin American sounds for Impulse Records – a set that's heavy on Cuban influences, thanks to arrangements from the mighty Chico O'Farrill! The sound is sublime – a bit fuller than some of Gato's other albums in the run, but never with any slick or commercial styles – just more of a richness from O'Farrill's backings, matched perfectly by Barbieri's amazing tones on the tenor! There's a lot of Latin percussion in the backings – courtesy of Ray Mantill, Luis Mangual, and Ray Armando – and Eddie Martinez mixes in some sweet electric piano with his acoustic lines, deepening the soul of the record in a really 70s way. Titles include "Milonga Triste", "Lluvia Azul", "La Padrida", "Viva Emiliano Zapata", and "El Sublime" – the last of which is a good description of the record! CD

Late niceness from Count Basie – and a set that definitely lives up to its name – a really high energy set, and one of the few times that Basie ever recorded for the MPS label! The group here works with sharp arrangements from Chico O'Farrill – who's got that punchy groove he was really perfecting in the 60s – a rhythmic snap that works just as well with the Basie group as Neal Hefti's charts did a decade before! Tunes are mostly standards, served up in a no-nonsense mode that's very heavy on the overall rhythmic conception of the group – but with some nice breakout solo moments, too – as you might hope for with a group that includes Eddie Lockjaw Davis on tenor, Eric Dixon on flute and tenor, Joe Newman on trumpet, Jerry Dodgion on alto, and Buddy Morrow on trombone. Titles include "Together", "If I Were A Bell", "The Lady Is A Tramp", "Chicago", "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Day In Day Out", and "When Sunny Gets Blue". LP, Vinyl record album