WILLIE BOBO
Do That Thing / Guajira
Willie Bobo is one of the great Latin percussionists, a relentless swinger on the congas and timbales, who made serious inroads into the pop, R&B and straight jazz worlds. Growing up in Spanish Harlem, Bobo began on the bongos at age 14, performed with Perez Prado a year later, studied with Mongo Santamaria, and joined Tito Puente for a four-year stint at age 19. After working with Cal Tjader, Herbie Mann and Santamaria with whom he recorded the great Latin standard "Afro-Blue", Willie Bobo stepped forward in 1962 with his first LP recording as a leader, titled "Bobo's Beat", with Clark Terry and Joe Farrell as sidemen. The following year, 1963, came this solo LP recording, titled "Bobo", his first LP for TICO Records (LP-1108), which was arranged around his previous double-sided single, "Bobo! Do That Thing" b/w "Guajira." The former, which leads off this LP, is a Ray Charles style shing-a-ling number, with frequent calls for Bobo to get to it. "Guajira" is even better, and marks Bobo's first minor-key Latin processional (many were to come), with great ensemble brass and reeds leading the way. Other selections include: "Azulito", a racing floor-filling stomper; "Grab Your Hat" and "Chickadee", both nice piano-led numbers; "Diferente", similar to the hit "On Broadway", and "He's That Way" which is similar to Major Lance's "Monkey Time". Also included are: "Un Solo Favor"; "Rigor Mortius"; "Latin Interlude"; "A La Bobita"; and "Ritmo Tymbale". Lots of nice beats & samples to be had here! Willie Bobo is solid & inventive here, and in peak form. Willie went on to play on innumerable sessions in New York, recording with artists like Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Herbie Hancock, Wes Montgomery, Chico Hamilton and Sonny Stitt. In 1969, he moved to Los Angeles where he led jazz and Latin jazz combos, appeared on Bill Cosby's first comedy series (1969-1971) and short-lived 1976 variety show, and recorded on his own for Sussex, Blue Note and Columbia. This LP is an exact limited edition repro of the original Tico album, and is pressed on heavy virgin vinyl from the original Stereo master tapes produced by Teddy Reig. Everything appears pristine and STILL FACTORY SEALED!
