WILLIE BOBO Spanish Grease Verve Records (V6-8631) This album, which puts the skids to those dull, do nothin days, gets its name from a musicians term. As Willie Bobo explains it, Spanish Grease kinda means Spanish Soul. Its a reality not a specific term, he says, or a term in general use. Its just a saying among the musicians he knows, many of whom are on this album. The album had a specific purpose, however, its an LP that is representative of what a Spanish-speaking individual living in Harlem hears and feels for his music. To Willie Bobo the music in Spanish Grease is a blending of the jazz idiom with Latin rhythms. Its a bridge, you might say, between jazz and Latin music, Willie explains. What weve tried to do is play the music we know best, the sound a Latin cat in Harlem would dig. What Willie and his group of top-flight musicians have come up with is an extremely contemporary sound. A sound that applies as much to the pop and jazz markets as it does in the Latin element. Its a soul sound that goes deep into the roots of Latin and rhythm and blues for its heartbeat. Indicative of this jazz-pop-r&b transition, is the broad range of material that goes to make up the repertoire on this album. From the Latin with jazz bag are Bobos own tune, (co-authored with trumpeter Melvin Lastie) Spanish Grease, Oscar Petifords Blues In The Closet and half of the final track in the album Blind Man, Blind Man. The teaming of Herbie Hancocks Blind Man with the r&b and pop hit Shotgun is just the kind of unique interchange and combining of material Bobo is talking about when he uses the term bridge in reference to this album. There are also two versions of the hit tune Its Not Unusual. Both are distinct departures from the original and have a swing and fun about them that makes them as entertaining and provocative as the original. Of special note is the Willie Bobo vocal on the first version. Then too, theres another pop tune, in an entirely different groove, which was a hit two or three years ago. Our Day Will Come the treatment of this tune, too, is unique in its interpretation. While Willie Bobo had words of praise for all the members of his hot Spanish Grease band. Melvin Lastie should be singled out for special comment. The trumpet star has been talked about in the record industry and in musicians circles for the past two or three years. Lastie is from New Orleans and caused a great deal of favorable comment when he played some very highly original solos on recordings made by a young pop vocalist named Barbara George. Lasties sound is something totally unique in contemporary music. It fits the Spanish flavor of these Bobo tunes, but has the basic feel and drive of r&b and jazz as well. Spanish Grease gives you a taste of the new sound of American music. A music thats a blend of the soul sounds of jazz, r&b and Latin - the sound of Spanish Harlem and the sound that means today! Enjoy! Side A 1. Spanish Grease 2. Hurt So Bad 3. Its Not Unusual (vocal) 4. Our Day Will Come 5. Haitian Lady Side B 1. Blues In The Closet 2. Nessa 3. Elation 4. Its Not Unusual (instrumental) 5. Shotgun / Blind Man, Blind Man Personnel: Willie Bobo: Leader, Timbales, Percussion Melvin Lastie: Cornet Richard Davis: Ampeg Baby Bass Bobby Brown: Alto & Tenor Saxophones Clarence Henry: Electric Guitar Victor Pantoja: Conga Lead Vocal: Willie Bobo (A3) Musical Arrangements by: Bert Keys Produced by: Creed Taylor Executive Producer: Norman Stern Recording Director: Willie Bobo Album Cover & Liner Photos: Rudolph Legname Album Cover Design: Acy Lehman Recording Engineer: Rudy Van Gelder Recorded @: Van Gelder Studios, Engelwood Cliffs, New Jersey VERVE RECORDS, 1965 A VERVE RECORDS PRODUCTION
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 20:42:52 +0000
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