-image012.jpg)
Hello, good evening! I had great plans for this Saturday night, but a last minute issue (successfully solved), changed everything. In order to keep you entertained this Sunday, I decided to make one single post. However, when we make just one release, it is nice to make something to please everybody. I could not believe when I saw this record, featuring a quartet that I did not realize the existence. Additionally, the album title is very similar to the name of the parrot that writes these lines. Let's see.This is LA4 - Zaca (1980), for Concord Jazz, featuring Laurindo Almeida, Bud Shank, Ray Brown and Jeff Hamilton. LA4 started in 1974, recording eight albums until dismissing in 1982. This is their sixth and all others were also recorded for Concord Jazz. I'm making available the original first vinyl issue with a slight different cover from the later well-known CD issue. This is what I know about LA4, perhaps Nathanael from Laurindo Almeida in the Heart can bring to us additional information about them. Stay tuned at comment section. Tracks include:
Personnel
Laurindo Almeida
(guitar)
Bud Shank
(sax, flute)
Ray Brown
(bass)
Jeff Hamilton
(drums)
Laurindo Almeida
(guitar)
Bud Shank
(sax, flute)
Ray Brown
(bass)
Jeff Hamilton
(drums)
Track List
01 - Zaca (Bud Shank)
02 - You Can't Go Home Again (D. Sebesky)
03 - A Child Is Born (T. Jones)
04 - O Barquinho (Roberto Menescal / Ronaldo Bôscoli)
05 - Close Enough For Love (Theme For ''Agatha'') (Johnny Mandel / Paul Williams)
06 - Pavanne Op 50 (Gabriel Fauré)
07 - Secret Love (Sammy Fain / Paul Francis Webster)
OI! Thanx to Zeca for this rare post. Im happy to inform you! The L.A. 4 was a playground for Laurindo Almeida and co-musicians Bud Shank, Ray Brown, Chuck Flores (original drummer), Shelly Manne and later Jeff Hamilton replacing Flores on the drums. It was a playground cause there was no style borders for anything. They did what they felt was the most fun for the moment. The styles could include Bach, Vinicius de Moraes, Almeida (!), Cole Porter, Gerswin, Jobim etc.......... And how they interpereted these composers was set in that period of time and how they felt was the best way to make subtle music. Cause that is the only red line in all albums. Cool, smooth jazz. Like Rio de Janeiro transformed to Los Angeles. The thing is that not many ppl know that we have Laurindo de Almeida to thank for the whole bossanova-bug OUTSIDE Brazil. Many people have the impression that Jobim and Sergio Mendes made the bug in the US with thier Carneigie Hall gig. FALSE! The work of introducing the Brazilian rythms and melt it in to american jazz was made by Mr Almeida in the dreamfactory of Los Angeles in the early 50s with his Stan Kenton Orq. He then made the Brazilliance-albums with his bud, Bud Shank. This is why we had the bossa nova bug in the US. Laurindo de Almeida was a BIG influence to Mr Jobim. Im not joking. But taking credit was not the strong side of Laurindo. He wanted to play the guitar. Nothing else. Well.... After his success in the US in the 60s and 70s he teamed up with Bud Shank once again to create The L.A.4.
ReplyDeleteDiscography
http://wc06.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jifwxqt5ldte~T20
(how the **** can i make a clickable link in the posts...?)
The official years you said are right Zeca. 1974-1982. But the LA4 lived for as long Laurindo lived. In various compilations and live gigs in the US. And thanx again for the post.
Please pay me a visit to honor Laurindo de Almeida. The TRUE king of the bossa guitar.
http://laurindo-almeida.blogspot.com
REGARDS NATANAEL (PS IM GONNA LAY THIS POST WITH ITS ORIGINAL TEXT TO MY BLOG/DS)
L.A.4 made 8 albums for Concord records which are still available,
ReplyDeletebut in 1977 they made the album
"Going home" for Japanese Polydor which is their rarest album.
In 1979 I watched their concert at Den Haag`s Northsea Jazz Festival and was very surprised when I saw them the morning after the concert having breakfast one table beside me in my hotel.