CAL TJADER
Both Sides Of The Coin (Concord Records)
Reviewed by Ron Saranich

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Both Sides Of The Coin is a recent release by Concord combining two previously issued Tjader albums. The first disk, titled Gozame! Pero Ya, features Cal Tjader on vibes along with Mark Levine on piano and Fender Rhodes, Roger Glenn on flute and percussion, Vince Lataeno on drums and percussion, Rob Fisher on bass, Poncho Sanchez on congas and percussion, and Mondell Lowe playing guitar for three of the numbers. The approach here is firmly grounded in the Latin jazz tradition. Disk two has Tjader on vibes, Hank Jones on piano, Scott Hamilton on tenor saxophone, Vince Lataeno on drums, and Dean Riley on bass. These songs are all written by the composer Johnny Mandel and this is a straight jazz session.

Of the two disks, my favorite is the one devoted to the Latin pieces. The playing by Tjader and his band mates sound more passionate and engaged than the second disk. Perhaps that is due to Tjader's lifelong commitment to Latin Jazz and his obvious comfort level with the rhythm and lyricism of this music. The second disk features more playing by Tjader's sidemen, and though I love Hank Jones' poised piano and Scott Hamilton's tasteful tenor, the mood is almost too mellow. For long stretches, the music easily receded into the background.

Both Sides Of The Coin is good, but not great, jazz. It's melodic and winsome, with the band sounding wonderfully integrated. But it lacks that primal drive that is essential for great Latin jazz. Perhaps if Tjader had soloed more often, things would be different.

© 2002 - Ron Saranich