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Amazonas

↑ Cal Tjader

Amazonas

Amazonas: Tjader's Brazilian Detour

Cal Tjader trades his usual Latin groove for a shimmering Brazilian current, with Egberto Gismonti leading the way.

I don't have verified details about the exact recording session for this album, including the studio, dates, or the circumstances behind the sessions, so I can't reconstruct the room with confidence. What I can say is that the personnel listed here puts Egberto Gismonti at the piano and synthesizer, with Luiz Alves on bass, David Amaro on guitar, Raul de Souza on trombone, Roberto Silva on percussion, and George Duke on keyboard, alongside Tjader on vibraphone. That lineup points toward a session that leaned heavily into Brazilian rhythm and harmony rather than the Afro-Cuban grooves Tjader was best known for.

The musical picture that emerges from those names is a mix of Gismonti's lyrical Brazilian piano writing and the textured percussion of Silva, with Tjader's vibraphone shining through as the melodic constant. Because I can't verify track-level details, I'd rather not describe specific pieces, but the instrumentation alone suggests a warm, rhythmic record where the vibes sit inside a Brazilian ensemble sound.

Tjader was a long-running bandleader who moved between styles, and Latin-tinged recordings like this one are part of the body of work that earned him his reputation. For a listener new to him, this is a reasonable entry point into his Latin-leaning side, though I'd suggest checking the surrounding discography for context on where it falls among his other records.

Who's playing
Luiz Alvesbass
Egberto Gismontipiano, synthesizer
David Amaroguitar
Raul de Souzatrombone
Roberto Silvamembranophone, percussion
Cal Tjadervibraphone
George Dukekeyboard
Listen next
By Cal Tjader
Latin Kick 1958
George Duke's own record
A Brazilian Love Affair 1980
George Duke plays keyboard here
More Latin Jazz
Bobo Motion 1967
Willie Bobo
Recording Info
Track listing
1Amazonas4:30
2Xibaba5:54
3Mindoro4:28
4Flying4:08
5Corine5:14
6Noa Noa4:11
7Tamanco No Samba5:30
8Cahuenga4:43
Musicians
Further Reading
Read more

Where next?

More by Cal Tjader
Latin Kick 1958
Soul Sauce 1965
Cal Tjader's Latin Concert 1959
Soul Burst 1966
All 45 albums →
The musicians on this record
A Brazilian Love Affair 1980
George Duke
plays keyboard here
Colors 1975
Raul De Souza
plays trombone here
Their own records, close in time
More Latin Jazz
Bobo Motion 1967
Willie Bobo
The Vigil 2013
Chick Corea
Danzón (Dance On) 1993
Arturo Sandoval
Eddie Palmieri 1981
Eddie Palmieri
All 68 Latin Jazz artists →

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