Colombian Al Escobar (1915-2015) worked with Tito Puente and other top Latin bands before setting up on his own, fronting an ensemble which was a mix of American and Hispanic musicians. It was this mixture of Latin and North American jazz elements that made him a hugely popular act in Los Angeles and resulted in the 2 LPs presented on this CD disc, both recorded in 1957.
Hi Fi · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
Tracklisting CD:
1. Rhythmagic (Escobar) (3:01)
2. Cha-Cha-Cha de los Pollos (Coen) (3:10)
3. No te vayas (Rodriguez-De La Fuente) (2:17)
4. Love for Sale (Porter) (3:01)
5. Juan José (Echevarría) (2:00)
6. Mambo Inn (Woodlen-Bauza-Sampson) (1:45)
7. Barranquilla (Escobar) (2:01)
8. Mi Destino (Escobar) (3:09)
9. Estás como Mango (Ramos-Juanma) (3:00)
10. Ahora (Suárez) (2:36)
11. Qué chiquitico (Duarte-Yñigo) (2:27)
12. A and E Mambo (Escobar) (2:39)
13. Tú no vale un kilo (Diaz) (2:49)
14. Palm Springs Mambo (Escobar) (1:53)
15. Ya yo sé (Barreto) (2:37)
16. Goodbye (Jenkins) (2:57)
17. A mí qué (Hernandez) (2:35)
18. I Lead a Charmed Life (Garcia) (2:45)
19. No encuentro palabras (De Castro) (2:07)
20. Frenesí (Dominguez) (2:34)
21. Mira a ver quién es (Marín) (4:24)
22. Johnnys Special (Conquet) (2:19)
23. Oye Nicanor (Escobar) (2:08)
24. Lennys Mambo (Escobar) (1:50)

Tracks 1-12 taken, from the Cadence Records album "Rhythmagic, Volume 1" (CLP-1021). Radio Recorders, Hollywood, March 4, 1957

Tracks 13-24 taken from the Cadence Records album "Rhythmagic, Volume 2" (CLP-3014). Radio Recorders, Hollywood, October 22 & November 19, 1957

Personnel on "Rhythmagic, Volume 1":
Marvin Brown, trumpet; Gene Sherry, French horn; Bob Burgess, trombone; Dick Houlgate, baritone sax and flute; Al Escobar, piano & arranger; Fred Provencio, bass; Alfred Gonzalez Jr., timbales; Modesto Duran, conga and bongos; Lionel Suárez, vocals & bongos; Mechita Mejía, vocals & claves.

Personnel on "Rhythmagic, Volume 2":
Pete Candoli, Marvin Brown, Joe Dolny, Johnny Audino, trumpets; Gene Sherry, French horn; Bob Enevoldsen, valve trombone; Herbie Harper, Dickie Wells, trombone; Herbie Stewart, alto sax; Dick Houlgate, baritone sax; Al Escobar, piano & arranger; Fred Provencio, bass; Modesto Duran, conga; Johnny Cheda, Gonzalo Pollito Caserin, Mechita Mejía, vocalists.