Cal Tjader

This single CD reissues all of the music from vibraphonist Cal Tjader's Guarabe LP plus five of the six tracks from Here. During this period, the influential Latin-jazz pioneer was leading a hornless quintet/sextet that included Clare Fischer's electric piano as a key part of the band's sound. With guitarist Bob Redfield, bassist Rob Fisher, drummer Pete Riso, the talented (but at the time obscure) percusionist Poncho Sanchez and (on the first half of the reissue) Carmelo Garcia on timbales keeping the proceedings heated, Tjader's group livens up such numbers as "This Masquerade," "Morning" and even the pop tune "If." An enjoyable if not essential release. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide