Cal Tjader

Cal Tjader was, without a doubt, the most famous non-Latin director of a Latin jazz band, a very extraordinary distinction. From the fifties up to his death, he was practically the focal point between the two worlds of Latin jazz and bop; his light, rhythmic and cheerful way of playing the vibraphone was able to satisfy both styles.

His many recordings for Fantasy and Verve and a long-lasting presence in the Francisco Bay area had a profound influence on Carlos Santana and on Latin rock in general. He also played the drums and the bongos, especially the latter in George Shearing’s quintet called, jokingly, "Wrap your troubles in drums".

Tjader studied music and education at San Francisco State Collage before getting in touch with his roommate in the Bay Area, Dave Brubeck, who played the drums in the Brubeck Trío from 1949 to 1951. He then worked with Alvino Rey, directed his own group and in 1953 joined George Shearing’s quintet at that enormously popular moment, as vibraphonist and percussionist. It was in Shearing’s band that Tjader’s love affair with Latin music began.

When he left Shearing the following year, Tjader formed his own band, which emphasized the Latin element but which continued playing with normal jazz instruments. Willy Bobo and Mongo Santamaría eventually joined Tjader’s band as the accompaniment and Vince Guaraldi also formed a part of the group for some time as pianist. Tjader recorded a long series of jazz albums – mostly Latin – for Fantasy from the mid fifties to the early sixties, changing Verve in 1961, when under Creed Taylor’s direction, he expanded his stylistic range and played with artists such as Lalo Schifrin, Anita O’Day, Kenny Burell and Donald Byrd. Along the way, Tjader achieved a minor hit in 1965 with "Soul Sauce", a new version of Dizzy Gillespie’s and Chano Pozo’s "Guacha Cuaro", which Tjader had already recorded for Fantasy.

« Back