Bebo & Colina

The Comparison Between Pianists Bebo Vald's And His Son Chucho Vald's Could Be Likened To The Choice Of The Beatles Bebo To The Rolling Stones Chucho . A More Likely Frame Of Reference Would Be Bebo As The Cuban Version Of Hank Jones And Chucho That Of Don Pullen.
Like Jones Bebo Started As An Accompanist Only To Shine As A Soloist In His Later Years. Now Nearly 90 His Music Just Seems To Get Better And Better. This Session Is His Recording At The Village Vanguard The Jazz Mecca In New York. Accompanying Vald's Is His Favorite Bassist Javier Colina. And Like Jones His Simple Charm And Dignity Is Ever Present In His Music Making. The Lushness Of His Touch Pervades This Recording As The Audience Shows Its Enthusiasm Throughout. He Plays Three Originals Some Pop Covers Cuban Classics And The Familiar Jazz Standards "Yesterdays" And "Waltz For Debby." Playing His Composition "Con Poco Coco " Vald's Makes It Clear That Cuban Jazz Is Indeed A Fusion Of Latin Caribbean American Jazz And Popular Musics. It Is All At Once Joyous And Celebratory. When Colina Takes Up His Bow To Drop Hints Of "Old Devil Moon " Vald's Retorts With "Salt Peanuts." And So It Goes. The Audience Is Encouraged To Sing Along With The Pop Tune "Bilongo." Here Valds' Playful Side Is Revealed As It Is On The Cha-Cha'd "Ritmando El Cha-Cha-Cha." If You Ain't Swaying In Your Seat Brother You Must Be Dead. The Pair Are Well Versed In Classical Cuban Music Too. They Deftly Take On "Siboney" And "Analucia " Almost—to Repeat Almost—playing Them Straight. But Then There Is The Boogie-Woogie "Bebo's Blues" That Turns Gershwin's "Rhapsody" Into A Cuban Blues As Well As His Take On Bill Evans' "Waltz For Debby " Which Maintains The Simplicity Of The Composition But Swings It With The Clever Pulse Of Colina With His Immutable Style. A Beautiful Recording I Wish I Could Have Been There. Track Listing Con Poco Coco Sabor A Mi Ritmando El Cha-Cha-Cha Rosa Mustia Andalucia Siboney Tres Palabras Aquellos Ojos Verdes Bilongo Si Te Contara Bebo's Blues Yesterdays Manisero Waltz For Debby. Track Listing Con Poco Coco Sabor A Mi Ritmando El Cha-Cha-Cha Rosa Mustia Andalucia Siboney Tres Palabras Aquellos Ojos Verdes Bilongo Si Te Contara Bebo's Blues Yesterdays Manisero Waltz For Debby. Personnel Bebo Valdés Piano Javier Colina Bass. read less