Results for "Cal Tjader"

Cal Tjader

Born: July 16, 1925

Cal Tjader crafted one the sleekest and most distinctivesounds in Latin jazz. His cool, shimmering, jazz vibes,gliding fluidly atop fiery, hot Afro-Cuban rhythms, made for asonic signature that helped introduce the genre into amainstream audience.

Cal Tjader’s mother was a concert pianist, his father avaudeville performer. He grew up with them on the road, tap-dancing his way through early childhood. Later, the familysettled down in San Mateo on the San Francisco Peninsula,and his father opened a dancing school. After high schooland a stint in the Navy, Cal ended up at San FranciscoState College, where he first met up with Dave Brubeck andPaul Desmond.

Adios, Chico

by Jack Bowers
June 29, 2001

This article first appeared on All About Jazz in June 2001. Big--band Jazz lost another of its brightest lights on June 27 when bandleader Chico O'Farrill, an early champion and tireless promoter of Afro--Cuban Jazz, died in Manhattan at age 79. O'Farrill's popularity had crested during the past half--dozen years ...

Roger Glenn: Reachin'

by C. Andrew Hovan
July 23, 2026

Sticking with a trend that has continued to thrive over the years, Craft Records' Jazz Dispensary imprint is now celebrating its tenth anniversary. Following on the heels of their reissues of The Visitors' Motherland (Muse, 1975) and Joe Henderson's Tetragon (Milestone, 1968), they have now tapped into the West Coast scene so well documented by Fantasy Records ...

Classic Jazz from Jimmy Smith, Dexter Gordon, and Others; Recent Releases from Chris Hazelton, Cecile McLorin Salvant, and more

by David W. Daniels
July 21, 2026

In addition to the musicians named in the title, this edition of Exploration features music from Atlanta based performers Joe Alterman, Karla Harris, and Melvin Jones. Our nod to birthdays for the week includes Theo Croker, Angelique Kidjo, Alan Dawson, and others. Playlist Charles McPherson “Explorations" from McPherson's Mood (Prestige) 00:00 Jimmy Smith “Mustard ...

Ran Blake & Dominique Eade, Joe Fiedler, Chris von Voorst van Beest, Satoko Fujii

by Cheryl K.
July 16, 2026

During this week's two-hour program of jazz and improvised music--pianist Ran Blake and vocalist Dominique Eade; bassist/trumpeter Flea featuring singer-songwriter Nick Cave; trombonist/composer Joe Fiedler; pianist/keyboardist Carlos Dafé; bassist Chris von Voorst van Beest; saxophonist/flautist Filipa Santo and guitarist Miguel Moreira; and two from pianist/composer Satoko Fujii.Playlist Frank Sinatra “Something Wonderful Happens in Summer" ...

Aubrey Johnson, Chris Potter, Don Ellis, and Others

by Jerome Wilson
July 8, 2026

This episode features recent music by Aubrey Johnson and Chris Potter alongside more off-the-beaten-path fare by Don Ellis and Mulatu Astatke.Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Mavis Pan “Black Sky" from Rising (Self-Produced) 1:02 Jenny ...

Classic Jazz From Donald Byrd, Carmen McRae, and Others with New Music from Michael Dease, Andy James, and Others

by David W. Daniels
December 24, 2025

Classic jazz from Cal Tjader, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Burrell, and more. Recently released jazz from the Chad Taylor Quintet, Mike Clark, and others. Birthday recognition for Clark Terry, Eddie Palmieri, and more.Playlist Mark Sherman “Explorations" from Family First (City Hall) 00:00 Cal Tjader “Tanya" from Soul Sauce (Verve) 8:13 Horace Silver “Finger Poppin'" from ...

Vince Guaraldi’s Christmas Sauce: Adding Spice to Charlie Brown Vanilla

by Arthur R George
December 21, 2025

It's not simply that pianist Vince Guaraldi slipped jazz past the unsuspecting in composing A Charlie Brown Christmas, the evergreen “Peanuts" animation and soundtrack that has become inescapably part of the holiday. First broadcast in 1965, going on to six decades ago, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a tradition unto itself. It returns to television through ...

Josh Nelson / Kevin Van Den Elzen: West Coast Echoes

by Jack Bowers
December 3, 2025

Pianist Josh Nelson and drummer Kevin Van Den Elzen (with bassist Eric Sittner) revisit the glory days of West Coast jazz in the 1950s and '60s on West Coast Echoes, a generally smooth and pleasing glance backward at the “cool" school of jazz championed by such legendary artists as Shorty Rogers, Art Pepper, Stan Getz, Shelly ...

RIP Nancy King and Terry Reid

by Jerome Wilson
August 27, 2025

This program pays tribute to two musicians who have recently passed away, vocalist Nancy King and singer-guitarist Terry Reid. It also includes music from Max Roach, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Tubby Hayes along others.Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & ...