Cuban Blues: The Chico O'Farrill Sessions CD

Principally recorded at Reeves Sound Studio, New York, New York and Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California between December 21, 1950 and April 21, 1954. Includes liner notes by Oscar Hijuelos and an interview with Chico O'Farrill by Ben Young.

For any and all Latin jazz collectors, casual or serious, this is a fabulous deal, for it gathers together no less than six exceedingly rare Chico O'Farrill Clef and Norgran 10" albums, plus one under Machito's name, onto a slimline two-CD set. It will also come as a revelation to anyone who might scoff at anything associated with the 1950s mambo craze, for these discs reveal O'Farrill as a sophisticated, even daring arranger/composer who reached beyond merely providing a beat for dancers. Many of these charts -- whether for the brief, dance-oriented Latin numbers; ultra-familiar standards like "Malaguena" and "The Peanut Vendor"; or jazz tunes -- are loaded with intricate figures and striking harmonies obviously gleaned from classical study, all crisply executed with a brash, shiny edge by his Afro-Cuban groups and bands staffed by American jazzmen. Occasionally, he even conjures a delicate, classical ambience from a number like "Angels' Flight" (named after Los Angeles' legendary downtown funicular). The apotheosis of O'Farrill's experiments are his two full-blown, groundbreaking Afro-Cuban jazz suites. The first features Flip Phillips and the redoubtable Charlie Parker as soloists within the Machito band, and the second is even bolder in its zigzag journey through the classical, Latin, and jazz camps. Yet for all of his erudition, O'Farrill never forgets to ask for madly percolating Afro-Cuban grooves from his rhythm teams -- which clinches the deal for any Latin music fan. ~ Richard S. Gine

Chico O'Farrill And His Orchestra includes: Chico O'Farrill (arranger, conductor); Bobby Escoto (vocals); Charlie Kennedy, Herb Geller (alto saxophone); Flip Phillips (tenor saxophone, reeds); Danny Bank (baritone saxophone, reeds); Mario Bauza, Roy Eldridge (trumpet); Eddie Bert (trombone); Gene DiNovi, Rene Hernandez (piano); Billy Bauer (guitar); Roberto Rodriguez, Ray Brown (bass); Jo Jones, Don Lamond (drums); Ubaldo Nieto (timbales); Candido Camero (bongos); Luis Miranda (conga).

Machito And His Orchestra includes: Chico O'Farrill (arranger, conductor); Machito (maracas); Charlie Parker (alto saxophone); Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet); Buddy Rich (drums); Chino Pozo (conga).

Compilation producers: Michael Lang, Ben Young.

CUBAN BLUES: THE CHICO O'FARRILL SESSIONS is part of Verve Records' "Take 2" series.

Personnel: Bobby Escoto (vocals); Billy Bauer (guitar); Irma Clow (harp); Lenny Hambro, Herb Geller, Ben Harrod, George Berg (reeds, alto saxophone); Flip Phillips, Herbie Steward (reeds, tenor saxophone); Don Davidson, Danny Banks (reeds, baritone saxophone); Howard Terry, James Williamson, Warren Webb, Wilbur Schwartz (reeds); Gene Johnson , Fred Skerritt, Charlie Kennedy, Charlie Parker (alto saxophone); Pete Mondello (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Sol Rabinowitz, Jose Madera (tenor saxophone); Leslie Johnakins (baritone saxophone); Al Stewart, Carlton McBeath, Louis Obergh, Jr., Paquito Davilla, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Bobby Woodlen, Dick Sherman, Al Porcino, Mario Bauzá, Roy Eldridge, Stu Williamson , Bernie Glow, Nick Travis, Jimmy Nottingham, Doug Mettome (trumpet); Vincent DeRosa (French horn); Carl Elmer, Eddie Bert, Freddie Zito, Vern Friley, Bill Harris , Ollie Wilson, Bart Varsalona (trombone); Gene DiNovi, Ralph Burns, Fred Otis (piano); Don Lamond, Jackie Mills, Jo Jones (drums); Luis Miranda , Carlos Vidal, Chano Pozo (congas); Jose Mangual, Candido Camero (bongos); Machito (maracas); Ubaldo Nieto (timbales); Modesto Martinez (percussion).

Liner Note Author: Oscar Hijuelos.

Recording information: Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA (12/21/1950-04/23/1954); Reeves Sound Studio, New York, NY (12/21/1950-04/23/1954).

Editor: Peter Pullman.

Arranger: Chico O'Farrill.