Bobos Beat by Willie Bobo

03 Apr

Written by Mark Keresman
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Timbales madness!!! That’d be an appropriate alternate title for this reissued platter - after all, we’ve had Alto Madness, Bongo Madness, Tenor Gladness, Bongo Fury.... OK, enough. This disc restores to circulation an early 60s album by Latin percussion wiz Willie Bobo, and while it’s no monster, it is a swell-enough straightforward Latin Jazz session. The rhythms jab, parry, cajole and percolate enough to liven up the next tepid soiree you find yourself at, and there’s some dandy soloing to be had from soloists from two jazz generations: Clark Terry (genial, big-hearted, suave, sweetly lyrical in a Dizzy way) and Joe Farrell (big-toned hard bop tenor just beginning to absorb the Coltrane influence) - and the remastered sound is none too shabby, either. Pick hit: "Let Your Hair Down Blues," a cooker that features some BIG, glad ‘n’ greasy organ sounds a la Jimmy McGriff, along with some truly inspired drumming from Mr. WB. [But, gosh, Reissue Gods, couldn’t you’ve added some new liner notes?]

Additional Info

Artist / Group Name: Willie Bobo
CD Title: Bobos Beat
Genre: Latin Jazz / Latin Funk
Year Released: 2003
Reissue Original Release: 1963
Record Label: Roulette Jazz
Musicians: W.B.: timbales, percussion; Clark Terry: trumpet; Joe Farrell: tenor sax; Frank Anderson: piano, organ; others unknown. Rec. in NYC 10/11/62 (mostly).
Label Website: http://www.bluenote.com
Rating: Three Stars