Vintage Jazz in Spanish?
May 26, 2010 12:31 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for a good sampling of 40s, 50s, and 60s Jazz in Spanish. I know Spain wasn't producing a lot of Jazz throughout those decades but there was obviously a lot of Cuban influence in American Jazz and I assume Latin American influence as well. Who were the Sarah Vaughans and Louis Primas who performed in Spanish, and more importantly where can I get my hands on their music?
Best answer: Without going into a dissertation on the subject of Latin Jazz (not just out of time considerations, but also because I wouldn't be qualified to give it!), there are different routes you can take when it comes to Latin Jazz. It branches out into different sub-genres and styles.
As early as the 40's, I'd try to find stuff by Machito and his Afro Cubans. I think they are credit with coming up with the first latin jazz song, although there was stuff going on back into the 20's that could perhaps bear tangible similarities to latin jazz. Mario Bauzá was their musical director and he is also a big name in early latin jazz.
The suggestions by MexicanYenta are good (and I second Desi Arnaz being a lot better than he gets credit for in the States), I would also add Cachao because he brought traditional jazz elements to Afro-Cuban music. I'd say his jazzier moments came in the late 50's, so that might be a good place to start with his music.
New York salsa musicians in the 60's and 70's injected a lot of latin jazz into their songs. In that regard, I'd point you to Fania All Stars and to solo works by individual members of the band, like Willie Colon, Larry Harlow, and Ray Barretto.
As far as vocalists, I'm drawing a blank right now - for various reasons, the people I come up with I wouldn't really characterize as having a jazzy-sounding vocal style, but rather they sing for latin jazz musicians/bands. But, for example, Hector Lavoe did a lot of vocals for Fania All Stars in the late 60's and early 70's, and he has a long solo career as well.
On the Brazilian side, bossa nova has both been influenced by jazz and also contributed to it, and in that arena I can think of a few vocalists - Astrud Gilberto, Joao Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Caetano Veloso.
Sorry I didnt link to any sites or wikis, but I'm at work and trying to be stealthy ;)
posted by DrGirlfriend at 1:58 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
As early as the 40's, I'd try to find stuff by Machito and his Afro Cubans. I think they are credit with coming up with the first latin jazz song, although there was stuff going on back into the 20's that could perhaps bear tangible similarities to latin jazz. Mario Bauzá was their musical director and he is also a big name in early latin jazz.
The suggestions by MexicanYenta are good (and I second Desi Arnaz being a lot better than he gets credit for in the States), I would also add Cachao because he brought traditional jazz elements to Afro-Cuban music. I'd say his jazzier moments came in the late 50's, so that might be a good place to start with his music.
New York salsa musicians in the 60's and 70's injected a lot of latin jazz into their songs. In that regard, I'd point you to Fania All Stars and to solo works by individual members of the band, like Willie Colon, Larry Harlow, and Ray Barretto.
As far as vocalists, I'm drawing a blank right now - for various reasons, the people I come up with I wouldn't really characterize as having a jazzy-sounding vocal style, but rather they sing for latin jazz musicians/bands. But, for example, Hector Lavoe did a lot of vocals for Fania All Stars in the late 60's and early 70's, and he has a long solo career as well.
On the Brazilian side, bossa nova has both been influenced by jazz and also contributed to it, and in that arena I can think of a few vocalists - Astrud Gilberto, Joao Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Caetano Veloso.
Sorry I didnt link to any sites or wikis, but I'm at work and trying to be stealthy ;)
posted by DrGirlfriend at 1:58 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
I don't know if this might be too basic for you, but I found the Latin Music USA show very interesting. I think the episode you would want to watch is "Bridges", because it is the one that talks most about Latin Jazz's influences on music, and mentioned a lot of the big names already mentioned upthread.
posted by sa3z at 2:15 PM on May 26, 2010
posted by sa3z at 2:15 PM on May 26, 2010
Best answer: DrGirlfriend is correct. Its difficult to make clean analogies between the American Jazz
scene and the Latin Jazz scene, particularly in those dates.
Arguably, and again, arguably, you can consider some early Cuban music and Salsa as 'latin' jazz.
If you agree to this definition, then Bebo & Chucho -cuban piano maestros- are something to look into. Also el Compay Segundo, Pío Leiva, Rubén Gonzalez, Ibrahim Ferrer. All very accomplished musicians.
Look for Buena Vista Social Club recordings and the movie also, and you will find Cuban musicians from those days who can be considered *jazz* virtuosos.
As for Salsa being considered as Latin Jazz, there's La Sonora Matancera, in which Celia Cruz performed. Again, a whole bunch of well rounded musicians....
posted by theKik at 4:40 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
scene and the Latin Jazz scene, particularly in those dates.
Arguably, and again, arguably, you can consider some early Cuban music and Salsa as 'latin' jazz.
If you agree to this definition, then Bebo & Chucho -cuban piano maestros- are something to look into. Also el Compay Segundo, Pío Leiva, Rubén Gonzalez, Ibrahim Ferrer. All very accomplished musicians.
Look for Buena Vista Social Club recordings and the movie also, and you will find Cuban musicians from those days who can be considered *jazz* virtuosos.
As for Salsa being considered as Latin Jazz, there's La Sonora Matancera, in which Celia Cruz performed. Again, a whole bunch of well rounded musicians....
posted by theKik at 4:40 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Tito Puente was a big deal in the 50's and beyond.
Both still have music widely available on Amazon and such.
Also, don't laugh, but Desi Arnaz was really good, but of course his music was mostly overlooked on "I Love Lucy". It's difficult to find his stuff, though.
Xavier Cugat was a big deal, too. His music is also still easy to find.
(Sorry I can't link to YouTube - it's blocked at my job.)
posted by MexicanYenta at 12:54 PM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]