The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 25, 2008 Report Posted February 25, 2008 I recently bought some of Cal Tjader's fifties albums, among them "Blackhawk nights", and was blown away by the tenor playing of Jose "Chombo" Silva. I wondered what had happened to him. Just now, putting on the CD of Boncana Maiga "Best of Salsa" (Melodie), I happened to notice that Jose "Chombo" Silva is the first violinist on the album. What! Damn good solos! Not sure when that album was made, cos it's in the CD player now and there's no date on the sleeve, but I think it was about 1999 (must be before 2003). So I thought I'd check up on the personnel on the Africando albums, since Boncana Maiga was the musical director of that band. And yes, there he is again, playing tenor sax on "Trovador" (1993) and "Tierra tradicional" (1994)! Phew! Anyone else got any info about this guy? MG Quote
mikeweil Posted February 25, 2008 Report Posted February 25, 2008 (edited) He died a few years ago, unfortunately just before a scheduled recording session for Sunnyside, which then was held and released as a "Tribute to Chombo". He's on a number of Cal Tjader and Mongo Santamaria CDs, but never was a permanent member of their groups. Fantasy 3-262 Cal Tjader - Mas Ritmo Caliente, reissued on Fantasy FCD-24712-2 Los Ritmos Calientes Fantasy 3-289 Cal Tjader - Tjader Goes Latin, reissued on Fantasy FCD-24730-2 Black Orchid Fantasy 3-283 Cal Tjader - A Night At The Blackhawk, reissued on Fantasy FCD-24755-2 Black Hawk Nights Original Jazz Classics OJCCD-281-2 Mongo Santamaria - Sabroso Milestone MCD-47075-2 Mongo Santamaria - Watermelon Man (2nd half is an unreleased live date with Chombo) Fantasy FCD-24734-2 Mongo Santamaria - At The Blackhawk Fantasy FCD-24738-2 Mongo Santamaria - Arriba! On some of the Mongo sessions, he also plays violin - excellent charanga violinist! His tenor has the sensuality of Getz, but with a warmer, rounder tone. There should be some reissues of his own sessions, but I will have to look for them. Edited February 26, 2008 by mikeweil Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 25, 2008 Author Report Posted February 25, 2008 He died a few years ago, unfortunately just before a scheduled recording session for Sunnyside, which then was held and released as a "Tribute to Chombo". He's on a number of Cal Tjader and Mongo Santamaria CDs, but never was a permanent member of their groups. Fantasy 3-262 Cal Tjader - Mas Ritmo Caliente, reissued on Fantasy FCD-24712-2 Los Ritmos Calientes Fantasy 3-289 Cal Tjader - Tjader Goes Latin, reissued on Fantasy FCD-24730-2 Black Orchid Fantasy 3-283 Cal Tjader - A Night At The Blackhawk, reissued on Fantasy FCD-24755-2 Black Hawk Nights Original Jazz Classics OJCCD-281-2 Mongo Santamaria - Sabroso Milestone MCD-47075-2 Mongo Santamaria - Watermelon Man (2nd half is an unreleased live date with Chombo) Fantasy FCD-24734-2 Mongo Santamaria - At The Blackhawk Fantasy FCD-24738-2 Mongo Santamaria - Arriba! On the Mongo session, he also plays violin - excellent charanga violinist! His tenor has the sensuality of Getz, but with a warmer, rounder tone. There should be some reissues of his own sessions, but I will have to look for them. Thanks Mike. I've got lots of Mongo, but NONE of those you listed! Which of the Mongo sessions has him on violin? (As near as I can find, the Boncana Maiga issued in 1997 or 1998; it's not even dated on the disc.) MG Quote
mikeweil Posted February 25, 2008 Report Posted February 25, 2008 Which of the Mongo sessions has him on violin? Original Jazz Classics OJCCD-281-2 Mongo Santamaria - Sabroso (whole session) Fantasy FCD-24734-2 Mongo Santamaria - At The Blackhawk (some tracks on tenor sax) Just noticed he plays violin on one of the two LPs reissued on Fantasy FCD-24733-2 Joe Loco - Locomotion But the other violinist on the Mongo sessions, Felix "Pupi" Legaretta, is even better! Quote
king ubu Posted February 25, 2008 Report Posted February 25, 2008 Gee, I definitely need more Tjader! I have "Black Orchid" with Silva on some titles, but more wouldn't be a bad thing! Quote
Big Al Posted February 25, 2008 Report Posted February 25, 2008 His tenor has the sensuality of Getz, but with a warmer, rounder tone. Completely agree! His tenor solo on "Out of Nowhere" is Getz bossa-nova before Getz did it himself! Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 25, 2008 Author Report Posted February 25, 2008 His tenor has the sensuality of Getz, but with a warmer, rounder tone. Completely agree! His tenor solo on "Out of Nowhere" is Getz bossa-nova before Getz did it himself! Which album is that on? MG Quote
Big Al Posted February 25, 2008 Report Posted February 25, 2008 His tenor has the sensuality of Getz, but with a warmer, rounder tone. Completely agree! His tenor solo on "Out of Nowhere" is Getz bossa-nova before Getz did it himself! Which album is that on? MG Fantasy 3-289 Cal Tjader - Tjader Goes Latin, reissued on Fantasy FCD-24730-2 Black Orchid Sorry 'bout that; I thought I put that on there! Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 25, 2008 Author Report Posted February 25, 2008 His tenor has the sensuality of Getz, but with a warmer, rounder tone. Completely agree! His tenor solo on "Out of Nowhere" is Getz bossa-nova before Getz did it himself! Which album is that on? MG Fantasy 3-289 Cal Tjader - Tjader Goes Latin, reissued on Fantasy FCD-24730-2 Black Orchid Sorry 'bout that; I thought I put that on there! Thanks Al. MG Quote
JSngry Posted February 25, 2008 Report Posted February 25, 2008 I discovered Chombo w/Cachao, then w/Mongo, and he's remained a favorite. I also have a Tru-Tone album by some charanga band where he's on violin. Versatile cat! Quote
seeline Posted February 26, 2008 Report Posted February 26, 2008 (edited) Check here for a brand-new reissue of one of his early 70s sessions. Descarga.com is one of *the* best sources for Latin/salsa, in the US, at least. (And no, i don't have any connection to them, although they've been very helpful in tracking things down for me.) Edited February 26, 2008 by seeline Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 26, 2008 Author Report Posted February 26, 2008 Thanks Seeline - I wonder where I can get it over here? MG Quote
rpklich Posted February 26, 2008 Report Posted February 26, 2008 I was lucky enough to have heard him live (here in Chicago) in the early 90s. He was a sideman with one of the major figures of Afro-Cuban music, Israel "Cachao" Lopez. I've heard him referred to as "the Latin Lester Young". The Lester Young influence was evident in that performance. (He didn't play violin that evening, Lewis Kahn did.) Quote
mikeweil Posted February 27, 2008 Report Posted February 27, 2008 (edited) Thanks Seeline - I wonder where I can get it over here Why not order from descarga.com? They're fast and reliable. I ordered the only Mongo DVD from them last month and it was here within a week. They also have a reissue of Chombo's only 1960's solo album with tunes of Armando Manzanero: Los Hits De Manzanero En El Saxofon De Chombo Silva CD (Disco Hit 1542) The one mentioned by seeline is one of the many descarga sessions he was on. Edited February 27, 2008 by mikeweil Quote
seeline Posted February 27, 2008 Report Posted February 27, 2008 (edited) Mike's right about their service - and if you so much as look at their in-print, in-stock titles by/with Silva, you're going to spend quite a bit of money, MG. Edited February 27, 2008 by seeline Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 27, 2008 Author Report Posted February 27, 2008 Mike's right about their service - and if you so much as look at their in-print, in-stock titles by/with Silva, you're going to spend quite a bit of money, MG. Tell me something new! (And less worrying, please.) MG Quote
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