Cachao – Master Sessions Volume 1

Released 1994

CineSon

Produced by Andy Garcia

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc


1. Al Fin Te Vi 1:18 [danza]
2. Isora Club 6:38 [danzon]
3. Mambo 3:31 [mambo]
4. El Son No Ha Muerto 7:04 [son]
5. Lindo Yambu 8:33 [rumba]
6. Mi Guajira 9:24 [guajira]
7. Lluvia, Viento Y Cana 7:21 [descarga]
8. Club Social de Mariano 7:29 [danzon]
9. A Gozar Con Mi Combo 6:19 [descarga]
10. Cachao’s Guiro 5:49 [guiro]
11. El Alcaide 6:51 [conga]
12. Descarga Cachao 6:22 [descarga]

All songs composed by Israel Lopez “Cachao” except (1) Ernesto Lecuona, (2) Coralia Lopez & Israel Lopez “Cachao”, (3) Orestes Lopez & Israel Lopez “Cachao” and (5) Ignacio Pineiro. All arrangements by Israel Lopez “Cachao”.

To say that Andy Garcia brought together many great musicians to make this recording with Israel Lopez “Cachao”, who was living in obscurity in Miami at that time, would be an understatement. In one week of recording starting only with four arrangements in pre-existence (Isora Club, Mambo, Lindo Yambu, Descarga Cachao), eight songs were written and arranged along with 12 additional songs released later in Master Sessions Volume 2.

Two songs (Mambo, Descarga Cachao) made salsanewyork.com list. A third (A Gozar Mi Combo) is also reasonably danceable in my opinion.

Musicians:

Israel Lopez “Cachao” / Conductor, Bass, Chorus (all)
Francisco Aguabella / Quinto (5), Chequere (10), Conga (11), Chorus (10)
Justo Almario / Tenor Saxophone (5,6,7,9,10,11,12)
Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros / Trumpet (4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12)
Rafael “Felo” Barrio / Guiro (2,3,5,6,7,8,9,12), Maracas (5), Chorus
Jimmy Bosch / Trombone (5,6,7,9,10,11,12)
Paquito D’Rivera / Clarinet (1,4,7,8,9), Alto Saxophone (5,10,12)
Richie Flores / Conga (2,3,5,6,7,8,9,12), Quinto (11)
Lazaro Galarraga / Chequere (10), Bombo (11), Chorus (5,10,11), Lead Vocals (5,10)
Andy Garcia / Jawbone (6,7), Rain Stick (7), Poetry (11), Chorus
Felicidad Gongora / Chorus (5,10,11)
Nelson Gonzalez / Tres (4,5,6,7,9,10,12), Clave (9), Chorus
Humberto “Nenge” Hernandez / Clave (4), Tres Golpes Conga (11), Box Drum (4), Cowbell (5), Bongos (6,7,9,12), Chequere (10), Chorus (10)
Rolando Laserie / Chorus
Juanito Marquez / Acoutic Guitar (4,9), Acoustic Guitar Solo (6), Chorus
Carlos Montiel / Chorus (4,5,6,9,12)
Cecelia Noel / Chorus (5,10,11)
Daniel Palacio / Chorus, Lead Vocals (4)
Nelson Regueira Marquez / Chorus
Richard Regueira Marquez / Maracas (5), Snare Drum (11), Chorus (5,10,11)
Tony Rosa / Conga (5,11), Bass Box Drum (5), Chequere (10), Chorus (10)
Bill Summers / Clave (5), Chorus (5,10,11)
Nestor Torres / Flute (2,3,4,5,8,10,12)
Alfredo Valdes Jr / Piano (2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12)
Orestes Vilato / Timbales (2,3,5,6,7,8,9,12)

String section (2,3,8)
Russ Cantor / Concert Master
Murray Adler, Bette Byers, Marilyn Graham, Ezra Kliger, Jorge Moraga Harry Scorzo, Dan Weinstein / Violin
Jan Kelly, David Shamban / Cello
George Hernandez / Contractor, Assistant Conductor

Additional background vocals
Joe Drago, Iris Ibarcena, William Marquez (5,11)

Cachao – Master Sessions Volume 2

Released 1995

CineSon

Produced by Andy Garcia

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc


1. Los Tres Golpes 1:25 [danza]
2. Bema e’ Cuchara 5:51 [descarga]
3. El Progreso 7:29 [danzon]
4. El Gaupachoso 8:36 [son montuno]
5. Descarga A 8:05 [descarga]
6. Cunde Echa Un Pie 3:57 [guaracha]
7. Romantica Mujer 4:19 [bolero son]
8. Sigue A Paquito Si Puedes 7:54 [danzon]
9. El Timbalero Travieso 5:00 [descarga]
Africa Suite
10. Eleggua (Intro) 1:47 [canto Yoruba]
11. Africa Viva 9:12 [danzon]
12. Juana La Coja 7:36 [descarga]
13. Eleggua Con Cachao (Coda) 2:46 [canto yoruba]

All songs written and arranged by Israel Lopez “Cachao” except (1) written by Ignacio Cervantes, (6) written by Israel Lopez “Cachao” and Rafael Ortiz, (7) traditional arranged by Israel Lopez “Cachao” and Juanito Marquez, (10,13) traditional.

The overtone of the album is very similar to the previous Master Sessions Volume 1 except there aren't any obvious dance tracks as is in my opinion.

Musicians:

Israel Lopez “Cachao” / Conductor, Bass, Chorus, Vocals (2), Cowbell (2), Piano (6), Lead Vocals (6)
Francisco Aguabella / Bata Drum (13), Chorus (10,13)
Justo Almario / Tenor Saxophone (2,5,6,7,9,12)
Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros / Trumpet (2,4,6,7,8,9,12), Flugelhorn (5)
Rafael “Felo” Barrio / Bombo (2), Guiro (3,4,5,6,8,9,12,13), Maracas (7), Chorus (2,3,4,5,6,8,9,12)
Jimmy Bosch / Trombone (2,5,6,7,9,12)
Paquito D’Rivera / Clarinet (1), Alto Saxophone (2,5,6,7,8,9)
Richie Flores / Conga (2,3,4,5,6,8,9,11,12)
Lazaro Galarraga / Lead Vocals (6,7,10,13)
Andy Garcia / Conga (2), Bongos (11), Chorus (2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,12,13)
Felicidad Gongora / Chorus (10,13)
Nelson Gonzalez / Tres (2,4,5,6,7,9,12), Chorus (2,3,4,5,6,8,9,12)
Humberto “Nenge” Hernandez / Bell (2), Clave (5,7), Bata Drum (13), Cowbell (4), Bongos (4,5,6,9,12), Chorus (10,13)
Rolando Laserie / Lead Vocals (4), Chorus (2,3,12)
Juanito Marquez / Acoutic Guitar (4,5,7,9,12), Chorus (3,4,5,6,9,12)
Carlos Montiel / Chorus (2,3,5,6,9,12)
Cecelia Noel / Chorus (10,13)
Daniel Palacio / Chorus (2,3,4,5,6,8,9,12)
Nelson Regueira Marquez / Chorus (2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,12,13)
Richard Regueira Marquez / Clave (4), Chorus (10,13)
Tony Rosa / Achere (13), Chorus (10,13)
Bill Summers / Bata Drum (13), Chorus (10,13)
Nestor Torres / Flute (3,7,8,9,11)
Alfredo Valdes Jr / Piano (2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12)
Orestes Vilato / Timbales (2,3,4,5,6,8,9,11,12), Bongos (7), Chorus (3,8)

String section (3,8 and presumably 11)
Russ Cantor / Concert Master
Murray Adler, Bette Byers, Marilyn Graham, Ezra Kliger, Jorge Moraga Harry Scorzo, Dan Weinstein / Violin
Jan Kelly, David Shamban / Cello
George Hernandez / Contractor, Assistant Conductor

Cachao – From Havana To New York

Compilation of recordings from 1957 and 1961

Released 2004
Caney
ASIN B000027WFH

Available at Amazon, Descarga (check their review), etc

Recorded in Havana, 1957 (tracks 1-12)

Israel Lopez “Cachao” / Bass
Guillermo Barretto / Timbales
Tata Guines / Conga
Rogelio “Yeya” Iglesias / Bongso
Gustavo Tamayo / Guiro
with
Alejandro “El Negro” Vivar / Trumpet (2,4,6,9,10)
Generoso “Tojo” Jimenez / Trombone (7,9)
Orestes Lopez / Piano (3,7,8,9,10)
Emilio Penalver / Tenor Sax (1)
Virgilio Lisama / Baritone Sax (1)
Richard Egues / Flute (11)
Nino Rivera / Tres-Guitar (12)

1. Guajeo De Saxos 2:19 (E. Penalver)
2. Estudio En Trompeta 2:17 (I. Lopez)
3. Cogele El Golpe 2:39 (A. Castillo)
4. Goza Mi Trompeta 2:55 (O. Estivill)
5. Descarga Cubana 3:01 (O. Estivill)
6. A Gozar Timbero 2:57 (O. Estivill)
7. Trombon Criollo 3:06 (O. Portillo)
8. Malanga Amarilla 3:17 (S. Contreras)
9. Controversia De Metalles 3:11 (I. Lopez)
10. Pamparana 2:34 (A. Leon)
11. Sorpresa De Flauta 2:51 (O. Estivill)
12. Oye Mi Tres Montuno 2:39 (A. Echevarria)

Recorded in New York, 1961 (tracks 13-20)

Israel Lopez “Cachao” / Bass
Marcelino Valdes / Timbales
Antonio “Chocolate” Diaz Mena / Conga
Jose Mangual / Bongos
with
Clark Terry, Jimmy Nottingham / Trumpet
Frank Anderson / Piano
Herbie Lovelle / Drums
Jerome Richardson / Flute, Piccolo, Tenor and Baritone Sax
Los Gatos / Vocals

13. Pa-Pa Bajo 2:24 (I. Lopez)
14. Escucha, Dos Trompetas 2:49 (J. Cain)
15. Mungo, Mungo, Baby 3:13 (V. Valdes)
16. Que Paso 2:50 (V. Valdes, R. Hernandez)
17. Chunga, Uhuruh, Chunga 2:10 (J. Cain)
18. A Bailar Guajira 2:29 (V. Valdes, R. Hernandez)
19. Tanga, Pa Katanga 2:16 (R. Santos)
20. Caballos Locos 2:06 (F. Rodriguez)

Two songs (Trombon Criollo, Malanga Amarilla) made salsanewyork.com honor list. This album is a classic.

Tracks 1-12 make up at least two other Cachao CDs called "Descargas: Cuban Jam Session" and "Descargas" (Sonodisc - ASIN:B00004R8RJ) and "Descargas: Cuban Jam Sessions in Miniature" (Vampi Soul - ASIN B0001CNPQS). I would venture to guess that this CD "Havana to New York" with extra 8 tracks is a better deal. Many other Cachao CDs have selections from tracks 1-12 included in them.