Cal Tjader

Cal Tjader (July 16, 1925 – May 5, 1982) has been called the greatest Anglo Latin jazz musician. Unlike other American jazz musicians who experimented with the music from Cuba, the Caribbean, and Latin America, he never abandoned it, performing it until his death.

Sideman (1951 – 1954)

Brubeck suffered major injuries in a diving accident in 1951 and the trio was forced to dissolve. Tjader worked with Alvino Rey and completed his degree at San Francisco State. He occasionally led his own group in this time.

Related Topics:
1951 - Alvino Rey

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Jazz pianist George Shearing recruited Tjader in 1953 hoping the vibes would add sparkle to his group's sound. When Shearing later decided to "go Latin", Tjader taught himself the congas and played them as well as the vibes. Down Beat's 1953 Critics Poll nominated him as best New Star on the drums.

Related Topics:
George Shearing - 1953 - Down Beat

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While in New York City, bassist Al McKibbon took Tjader to see the Afro-Cuban big bands led by Machito and Chico O'Farril, both at the forefront of the nascent Latin jazz sound. In New York he also met Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo. George Shearing picked up both to round out his Latin combo band.

Related Topics:
New York City - Al McKibbon - Big band - Machito - Chico O'Farril - Mongo Santamaria - Willie Bobo

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Tjader is often, and wrongly, credited as the musician who brought the vibraphones to Latin jazz. John Storm Roberts claims Tito Puente deserves the title, as he performed Afro-Cuban tunes on the vibraphone in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

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