Cal Tjader & Eddie Palmieri - Bamboleate (1967)

The second album pairing Palmieri and Tjader, Bamboleate moves beyond El Sonido Nuevo into the respective territories of each artist. "Bamboleate" is the Latin cooker ones expects from Palmieri but did not find on the more subdued El Sonido Nuevo. "Semejanza" is an equally affecting jazz lilt led by Tjader. Framed by a melody that could have come straight off the Vince Guaraldi Trio's Charlie Brown Christmas album, it has an equally indelible, locomotive rhythm. Tjader's samba, "Samba De Los Suenho," is a welcome departure from the relative rigidity of El Sonido Nuevo. Also vital are the vocal tracks (Palmieri's); the blatant channel-switching in "Guajira Candela" is an abuse of stereo separation, however. (Use a second voice or instrument for that.) "Pancho's Seis Por Ocho" is typical of the deep, mid-tempo, Afro rhythm of Bamboleate and El Sonido Nuevo. Trombonist Mark Weinstein contributes the closing "Ven Y Recibelo (Come an' Get It)," a mod/soul cooker on a par with the best of Verve all-stars Tjader, Ogerman, Winding, and Schifrin. Finally, the album was reissued in 1977 as Tico LPS-88806 and distributed by Fania; the reissue at least features illustrations of Tjader and Palmieri by Jose Vargas.

Review - Tony Wilds

http://www.allmusic.com/album/bambol%C3%A9ate-mw0000273328

Caj Tjader & Eddie Palmieri - El Sonido Nuevo (1966)

This Verve CD reissues the popular collaboration between vibraphonist Cal Tjader and pianist Eddie Palmieri (who provided the arrangements) titled El Sonido Nuevo: The New Soul Sound, along with six other songs taken from a pair of Tjader's other Verve albums. Despite the claims of greatness expressed in the liners ("a landmark in the history of Latin jazz"), much of the music is actually quite lightweight although enjoyable enough, and the easy listening melodies and accessible rhythms hold on to one's interest. Despite the changing personnel, Tjader is generally the lead voice, and he is in fine form even if the overall results are not all that memorable or unique.
Review - Scott Yanow
http://www.allmusic.com/album/el-sonido-nuevo-the-new-soul-sound-r148939

1. Los Jibaros

2. Guajira Azul

3. Ritmo Uni

4. Picadillo

5. Modesty (Theme from Modesty Blaise)

6. Unidos

7. On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)

8. El Sonido Nuevo

9. Fuji

10. Black Orchid

11. Los Bandidos

12. Poinciana

13. Yellow Days

14. Along Came Mary