Who likes LATIN JAZZ?


NOT ME, at least not for a long time now (other than JOBIM- i am referring more to cuban, afro-cuban, etc. material) but rather suddenly (within the last month or so) i started to enjoy the upbeat nature of alot of the tunes as well as the sophisticated rhythms and the exceptionally talented players. plus it so happens that a bass player named CACHAO just passed away (last week), and there were numerous musical tributes on the radio (miami). the more tracks they played, the more i appreciated the musicianship of this extremely talented player, allegedly the composer of 3000 songs. in addition, Cal Cjader, Tito Puente, Paquito D'Rivera, even Mongo Santamaria, and many others got my anglo foot tapping. i don't dance particularly well, and am not going to take mambo lessions; but the music is interesting enough even when seated. the only thing that sometimes turns me off is if the percussion, particularly too many bongos doing a "how fast and loud can you play" segment, dominates a particular song. but it doesn't happen all that often (thank goodness!), and i can go back to listening to alot of other instruments interpreting the music such as fiddles, marimbas, bari saxes, etc. SO, who shares my new-found interests in this medium, and does anybody here have any recommendations if i wanted to put together a collection of cd's representing "the best of the best"? for starters, i would have to say
CACHAO'S master sessions #1 and #2 would definitely be on my list, along with Cjader... can anyone name some cd titles for me? thanks!
french_fries
"...what turns me off is the percussion..."!!??

I can't decide whether you're for real or not but regardless, your post was most amusing. I'm reluctant to say this to anyone because I'm so very pro-Latin Jazz, but perhaps this genre isn't for you.

"...bongos doing a "how fast and loud can you play" segment, dominates a particular song. but it doesn't happen all that often (thank goodness!)..."

This statement pushes so many of my buttons that I think it's best if I just leave it alone. You're in Miami, I suggest you go to a concert or two, it might help you along your musical journey, good luck!
If you like some 'vintage' Latin jazz get Stan Getz's "The Girl from Ipanema - The Bossa Nova Years" a 4CD set put out by Verve. this will transport you back a few years to the time when this music was extremely popular.
Herbie Mann in Newport era.New Mann at Newport and Standing Ovation are Great !!JD
Pianist Bebo Valdés (Chucho's father) recorded an album a few years ago with the flamenco singer Diego "el Cigala", called "Lágrimas negras" . . . I cannot recommend it highly enough. Incredible subtlety of expression in a medium that is still fundamentally Latin, and no bongos.