Jack Costanzo

Artist: Jack Costanzo

LP: Latin Fever — The Wild Rhythms of Jack Costanzo
Song: "Cumbanchero"
[ listen ]

Here's some red-hot bongo music for a cold gray morning. You can read about Jack "Mr. Bongo" Costanzo on " Wikipedia [here], you can find some cool clips of Costanzo playing w/ Nat King Cole, Elivs and others and become his friend on MySpace [here] and I've copied the notes from the back of this 1958 "Latin Fever" LP here:

From a humble, do-it-yourself beginning...(he constructed his first
set of bongos and taught himself to play)...JACK COSTANZO has become
the worlds most renowned bongo drummer. When he plays in Cuba the
natives shout—when he plays in Hollywood the cream of the screen stars
turn out to listen...and to study with him.

Jack has worked with Stan Kenton as the first bongo drummer to join
a jazz orchestra...with Nat "King" Cole as the first to play with such a
trio; he has played in night clubs from New York to Las Vegas...even
appearing in the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall...and his rhythmic
genius has surged through many motion pictures.

If you're not already a Costanzo fan, you will be after one quick listen
to this, his latest album, "LATIN FEVER." You may even decide to
buy some bongos—or make them yourself—and practice till your fingers
are sore and your wrists stiff...but don't say you weren't warned!
--Vance Graham

LATIN FEAVER LP features:
Eddie Cano — Piano
Paul Lopez — Trumpet
Jay Corre — Tenor Sax
Augie Alcaraz — Flute
Tony Reyes — Bass
Eddie Aparicio and Ray Rivera — Drums

Notes for "CUMBANCHERO" track:
Another first—the first time you'll hear snare drum played with open
snares. Solo honors are divided between bongos and trumpet...
over-all effect is the most!

[ Jack Costanzo ]