Geri Galian and His Caribbean Rhythm Boys

Artist: Geri Galian and His Caribbean Rhythm Boys

LP: Rhapsody In Rhythm
Song: "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue"
[ listen ]
Song: "Tara Lara"

[ listen ]

I was milling about in Tacoma this past Saturday afternoon after a family get-together for my 8-year-old nephew's birthday in Gig Harbor and before meeting my friend Ryan in the evening to see US at Grand Cinema. I finally paid a visit to the wonderful Tacoma Book Center, and then I popped in at House of Records, where I picked up this 1955 LP by Spanish piano master Geri Galian, who, frankly, I've never heard of before. But then it seems most people nowadays haven't. 

According to the album liner notes, Galian appeared in several hit Hollywood films of the 1940s and '50s, he performed at places like the Hollywood Bowl and Biltmore Theatre in L.A., and at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas...but now the poor guy doesn't even have a Wikipedia page! The sparkly magic he whips up at the piano keyboard is absolutely brilliant and exciting—it's like he's playing all 88 keys at once! I don't see any reason why this guy shouldn't still be famous. It's time for a Geri Galian revival! You with me? I'm putting in an order for bobbleheads and t-shirts.

Geri Galian and His Caribbean Rhythm Boys on YouTube:

[ "Jungle Rumba" ]  

[ Geri Galian and His Caribbean Rhythm Piano ]

[ House of Records / Turntable Treasures — Tacoma, WA ]

Hugo Montenegro & His Orchestra

Artist: Hugo Montenegro & His Orchestra

LP: Boogie Woogie + Bongos

Song: "The Fives"

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Here's another from the fabulous Hugo Montenegro, this one found last weekend at Rooky Ricardo's Records in San Francisco. You can read even more about Montenegro here. The musicians working with Hugo on this LP include lots of names that pop up elsewhere in my collection—like Phil Bodner, Urbie Green, Joe Harnell, Al Caiola, Phil Kraus and Pacheco—and I have to agree: they've created something new and different in modern stereophonic sound. The LP liner and track notes are included below.

 

 

Osvaldinho da Cuíca e Grupo Vai-Vai

 Artist: Osvaldinho da Cuíca e Grupo Vai-Vai

LP: Vamos Sambar

Song: "Tá Assim de Mulher e Tá Chegando Mais"

[ listen ]

Song: "Cozinha"

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Born in 1940, Osvaldinho da Cuíca is one of the most popular names in samba in his native city of São Paulo. Unfortunately, this gifted singer and percussionist's name turns into "Osvaldinho the Opossum" when translated to English. Osvaldinho da Cuíca is still making wonderful music, as one can see in the video clip below, and the liner notes (in Portuguese) and a pretty sexy photo from the back of this 1975 LP are included below that.

Osvaldinho da Cuíca on YouTube:

[ "Esquentando a Frigideira" ]

Bob Rosengarden and Phil Kraus

 

Artist: Bob Rosengarden and Phil Kraus

LP: Like—Bongos!

Song: "Caravan"

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I never promised you a Rosengarden, but here he is anyway, working with Phil Kraus on this terrific bongo-themed entry in Time's Series 2000 set. Working with Bob and Phil here are Al Caiola (guitar), Phil Bodner (lots of things), Nick Tagg (piano and organ) and Frank Carroll (bass) along with several percussionists you'll find listed in the notes below. You can read about Phil Kraus here, Bobby Rosengarden here, and specific song notes for all tracks on their album can be found below, in case anyone is tempted to purchase their own copy of this record here.

 

 

 

Jack Costanzo

Artist: Jack Costanzo

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

Don Ralke

Artist: Don Ralke

LP: Bongo Madness
Song: "Calypso Cubano"
[ listen ]

the music doesn't quite live up to that LP cover and frankly, it sounds more like 'Bongo Nonchalance,' but I guess it's pretty good anyhow. Other musicians playing with Ralke here are Buddy Collette, Jack Burger, Don Tosti and Tom Wofford. LP liner notes for "Calypso Cubano": A happy calypso wanders the streets of Trinidad telling amusing stories. He stops, converses merrily with a friend, and goes on his way.