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From '50s NYC clubland, a Yma Sumac-inspired version of "Babalu" by jazz/calypso singer Phyllis Branch.
Author Archives: Little Danny
West Coast Latin jazz
Three different Latin jazz combos this week. They sprang from the fascinating Latin jazz world of ’50s and ’60s California (the Bay Area and Los Angeles, in this case). These were diffuse scenes. They drew their devotees from the Mexican-American … Continue reading
The Shingaling
The Shingaling, like the term “boogaloo,” refers to two separate (but related) mid-’60s pop phenomena. There’s the “shingaling” synonomous with Latin Soul – jazzed-up guajiras and mambos with an R&B kick, sung in English and Spanish by younger Nuyoricans. Possibly … Continue reading
The Middle East, after hours
Mention the Middle East nowadays and it’s hard to not conjure up images of shoulder-fired grenades, the hulks of burned-out cars, blood, strife, extremism. Decades ago, the average American – the pages of National Geographic open before him – was … Continue reading
Overhauling the British Invasion
It was 1966. As far as both hipness and the sales of rock ‘n’ roll records went, the British were still outclassing their upstart counterparts from the States. Naturally, we agitated as a nation to summon up a dignified response … Continue reading
Vocal Noir
Some obscure, atmospheric jazz vocals this week. 1. Mark Murphy, Come and Get Me (Riverside) “Come and Get Me” is just so macabre – and on so many levels. From those first creeping bass notes to the strings’ final eerie … Continue reading
Bossa America
The Bossa Nova had already been maturing in Brazil for several years when, in 1959, the movie Black Orpheus first broke the sounds of Luiz Bonfa and Antonio Carlos Jobim to a larger American and European audience. The wheels were … Continue reading
The psychedelic hinterlands
Greater Los Angeles and San Francisco in the 1960s weren’t the sole province of psychedelic pop. This week we pack for the long trek to the psychedelic hinterlands. 1. Jazz Bend Me Blues Band, Lady Weaver (Algar) Things were different … Continue reading
Chicago soul
Chicago was, in addition to being one of America’s greatest music cities, an epicenter for soul music in the ’60s and ’70s. As cities, only Detroit and Philadelphia rivaled Chicago in terms of a sheer abundance of independent record labels … Continue reading
