"This material is from airchecks of three different 1951 Birdland broadcasts; the guest artists are Zoot Sims and Brew Moore. Working the Jazz Corner of the World and being in the presence of these soloists inspires Machito s players to new heights of bop-tinged Afro-Cuban groove. One example is Uba Nieto s subtle reinforcement of the clave and accentuation of 2 and 4 with his bass drum on this disc s second version of 'Tanga.'" (David M. Carp 98/99 Catalog)
"This CD offers a rare glimpse of one of the greatest Afro-Cuban institutions, Machito and his Afro-Cubans, who are captured performing some live club dates via acetate radio transcriptions. There are plenty of Machito recordings available, but to hear this musical machine in a live situation is an overwhelming experience. " (Raul Rico Jr. 94/95 Catalog)
Recorded live at Birdland club June 16, November 10, and November 17 in 1951.
Musicians include:
Machito Leader, vocals, maracas
Graciela Vocals, claves
Mario Bauza, Paquito Davila, Bobby Woodlen Trumpets
Eugene Johnson, Freddy Skerrit Alto sax
Leslie Johnakins Baritone sax
René Hernandez Piano
Roberto Rodriguez Bass
Ubaldo Nieto Timbales
Ralph Miranda Congas
José Mangual Bongos
Zoot Sims Tenor sax on cuts 6 & 11
Brew Moore Tenor sax on cut 16
Machito played a huge role in the history of Latin jazz, for his bands of the 1940s were probably the first to achieve a fusion of powerful Afro-Cuban rhythms and jazz improvisation. At its roaring best, the band had a hard-charging sound, loaded with jostling, hyperactive bongos and congas and razor-edged riffing brass. Machito was the front man, singing, conducting, shaking maracas, while his brother-in-law Mario Bauza was the innovator behind the scenes, getting Machito to hire jazz-oriented arrangers.
The son of a cigar manufacturer, Machito became a professional musician in Cuba in his teens before he emigrated to America in 1937 as a vocalist with La Estrella Habanera. He worked with several Latin artists and orchestras in the late '30s, recording with the then-dominant Latin bandleader Xavier Cugat.
After an earlier aborted attempt to launch a band with Bauza, Machito founded the Afro-Cubans in 1940, taking on Bauza the following year as music director where he remained for 35 years.
01. Introduction
02. Carambola
03. Esto Es La Felicidad
04. Zambia
05. Picadillo
06. Tanga
07. Blen Blen Blen
08. Mani Picao
09. Zambia
10. Holiday Mambo
11. Tanga
12. Vaya Niña
13. Que Me Pasa
14. Babaratiri
15. Si Si, No No
16. Tanga