Warm Wave - Cal Tjader

 

Just Friends

Warm Wave

Cal Tjader

Arranged and Conducted by Claus German

Produced by Creed Taylor

Cover Photograph: Alam Fontaine

Verve 90714

Recorded May 8, 11 & 13, 1964 at A.&R. Studios, New York City

June 8, 1964 at Van Gelde4r Studios, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

Engineer: Phil Ramone & Rudy Van Gelder

Director of Engineering Val Valentine

Cal Tjader - Vibes

Patti Brown/Hank Jones/Bernie Leighton - Piano

Kenny Burrell /Jim Raney - Guitar

George Duvivier - Bass

Ed Shaughnessy - Drums

Willie Rodriguez - Percussion 

Seldon Powell/Jerome Richardson - Tenor Sax

Strings: Sid Edwards, Lewis Eley, Paul Gershman, Harry Clickman, Louis Haber, Julius Held, Harry Lookofsky, George Ocker, Lucien Schmidt, Morris Stonzek, Paul Winter, Teo Kruczek, Maurice Brown, Charles McCracken, Gene Orloff, Raoul Poliakin, Alana Shulman, Sylvan Shulman

From the inside cover (gatefold jacket): Following the success of musical sojourns with Oriental-influenced material, as represented by Several Shades Of Jade (V/V6-85078) and Breeze From The East (V/V6 8575), Cal Tjader returns home with a set of genuine American beauties. Shedding saki, gets, incense and tea leaves, Cal is tastefully re-attired in Occidental accoutrement and a few Latin touches of his album, Warm Wave.

Although Cal had often talked about his desire to record an album of hand-picked ballads on several occasions, the genesis of the album began in February of 1964 when were were both catching the sounds of Woody Herman's big band in San Francisco. 

During an intermission we discussed the high number of very beautiful ballads created by tunesmiths in the 'Forties. Cal picked up a cocktail napkin and jotted down the titles of themes that jointly impressed us. Out of this good-sized inventory, Cal has selected and performed a fine sampling of poignant love songs for this album.

Cal's pen change for these melodies is mirrored in the personal dimensions of his make up – gentleness, sensitivity, empathy, romanticism, and a deep sense of sincerity.

The cynosure of this Tjader album is a blend of taste, grace and simplicity. Consistent with these objectives, Claus Ogerman has maintained parallel standards in his excellent arrangements. Take note of the writing for strings. The solid quality of their texture provides a charming tapestry to the interpretations. There is a strong linear effect in the flow of the strings in support on the half-dozen selections unitizing the string ensemble. Cal feels, "The strings are not obtrusive." He says "they don't interfere with the groove of the rhythm section. Claus wrote just beautifully! I was able to improvise freely without being wound up in complexity.

Cal's relaxed, natural feelings is clearly evident. Incidentally Cal was first captivated by Ogerman's arranging on the Antonio Carlos Jobim album (V/V6-85487). 

Listen to the harmonies of Violets For Your Furs and The Way You Look Tonight. The latter is the high point in the album. This 64-bar Jerome Kern tune is played in Cal's favorite approach.

"I could play in this groove all night long," he says, "It builds to a general climax."

The Way You Look Tonight begins with a two-beat feeling up until the channel. The strings make their entry on the second half of the channel in a legato style and after a complete chorus and a return to the channel, the group plays the tune out. Cal likens this mode of attack to the 1953 Savoy recording of Tangerine which featured bassist Al McKibbon, pianist Hank Jones and drummer Kenny Clarke and was recorded during Cal's tenure with the George Shearing Quintet. It is obviously a comfortable and appealing groove for Cal. 

Cal has high praise for pianist Hank Jones. "Hank is a beautiful feeder" says Cal. "Along with John Lewis, Hank is one of my favorite pianists because he has a great feeling for feeding (chords to) the soloists."

On the tracks without strings, Jerome Richardson and Sheldon Powell play flute and the guitar work is divided between two marvelous jazzmen, Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Raney. In addition to Jones on piano, Bernie Leighton and Patti Bowen share piano responsibilities. Bassist George Duvivier and drummer Eddie Shaughnessy play on the complete roster of tunes.

A touch of nostalgia characterizes many of the ballads. Paste is one of my favorite tunes (and one of Cal's too, obviously) from the 1940's. This gorgeous song is played magnificently on this album. The inclusion Cole Porter's Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye was inspired  by a version by one of Benny Goodman's small groups made on an old 78 r.p.m. disc. From the Frank Sinatra-Tommy Dorsey days came Violets For Your Furs. This Time The Dream's On Me, a Richard Arlen beauty, and one of Cal's favorite composers, recalls Bobby Hackett's trumpet obbligato, Ray Eberle's vocal and the Glenn Miller orchestra.

However, for a change of orientation, the contemporary and infections ballad People from the Broadway musical Funny Girl is nudged towards its probable destiny – that of becoming a standard. 

For balance of interpretations, a bossa nova rhythm underpins part of the collection. Likewise, voices (a well known French jazz vocal group) are used to augment the arrangements of People, Poor Butterfly and the Ogerman original, Sunset Blvd.

Cal was not out to experiment with this album. He comments succinctly, "I feel strongly about the tunes. It's a real pleasure to do tunes that are natural for me – especially when I'm fond of them. I play them simply and let the tunes speak for themselves."

The versatile Mr. Tjader exudes integrity, warmth and excitement in his expressions – verbally and instrumentally. – Herb Wong, staff announcer on KJAZ-FM, San Francisco and jazz writer for FM and Cultural Guide Magazine

Where Or When

Violets For Your Furs

People

Poor Butterfly

This Time The Dream's On Me

Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

I'm Old Fashioned

The Way You Look Tonight

Just Friends

Sunset Blvd.

Passe