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TopTenREVIEWS presents the music career and reviews of Cal Tjader

Cal Tjader band image

Cal Tjader

BAND RANKINGS:

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CAREER SPAN:

Decade
Album Score
# Albums
1950s
2.5536
7
1960s
2.4164
9
1970s
0.0000
5
1980s
0.0000
4
1990s
1.9778
13
2000s
0.0000
19
Ratings and rankings are based on all available critic reviews for each album.
Overall Band Score: Cal Tjader is ranked overall as 3.1405 out of 4 stars 3.1405

Cal Tjader Album Rankings

1
Monterey Concerts by Cal Tjader
This CD (which reissues all of the music from the two LPsConcert by the SeaandVol. 2) is the definitive early Cal Tjader album and one of the high points of his career. ...more
2
Tjader Plays Mambo by Cal Tjader
Having finished his tenure withGeorge Shearingin 1954, a thoroughly Latin-inoculated Cal Tjader took off on his own, recording several short slices of infectious Latin jazz, from which a dozen were se ...more
3
Black Orchid by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 3.2442 out of 4 stars for Black OrchidBlack Orchid (3.2442)
This CD has all of the music originally on the two LPsCal Tjader Goes LatinandThe Cal Tjader Quintet. ...more
4
Latin Kick by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 2.9981 out of 4 stars for Latin KickLatin Kick (2.9981)
Cal Tjader's era-defining mixture of Afro-Cuban rhythms and mainstream jazz solos undergoes a bit of a horizontal expansion in these 1956 sessions. ...more
5
Soul Sauce by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 2.8696 out of 4 stars for Soul SauceSoul Sauce (2.8696)
Soul Sauceis one of the highlights from Tjader's catalog with its appealing mixture of mambo, samba, bolero, and boogaloo styles. ...more
6
The Concord Jazz Heritage Series by Cal Tjader
Vibraphonist Cal Tjader recorded for Concord steadily during the last three years of his life. This 1998 CD sampler has a dozen selections taken from Tjader's six Concord dates. ...more
7
Mambo with Tjader by Cal Tjader
Vibraphonist Cal Tjader was quickly becoming one of the most important forces in Latin-jazz when he recorded the infectious music on this CD reissue. ...more
8
Amazonas by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for AmazonasAmazonas (0.0000)
Cal Tjader's Brazilian explorations continue and actually deepen with this release, as he joins forces with a host of progressive young Brazilian musicians, all overseen by producer Airto Moreira. ...more
9
Descarga by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for DescargaDescarga (0.0000)
Descarga is a merger of two albums recorded near the beginning of the Seventies -- the fascinating studio session Agua Dulce and the self-explanatory Live at the Funky Quarters. ...more
10
Tambu by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for TambuTambu (0.0000)
Still trying to stay in tune with the Seventies, Cal Tjader joins forces with another refugee from another time, guitarist Charlie Byrd, for an album of contemporary Brazilian-flavored jazz. ...more
11
Sentimental Moods by Cal Tjader
Fantasy Records is to be commended for re-releasing so many of their classic Cal Tjader albums in the budget-priced two-for-one CD format, even if Sentimental Moods features one of their odder pairin ...more
12
Tjader Plays Tjazz by Cal Tjader
In a change of pace, for this recording vibraphonist Cal Tjader recorded cool-toned bop without a Latin rhythm section. ...more
13
Here and There by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Here and ThereHere and There (0.0000)
This single CD reissues all of the music from vibraphonist Cal Tjader's Guarabe LP plus five of the six tracks from Here. ...more
14
Solar Heat by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Solar HeatSolar Heat (0.0000)
No review available
15
Black Hawk Nights by Cal Tjader
In the late '50s, Cal Tjader and his bands played lengthy engagements at the Black Hawk jazz club in San Francisco. ...more
16
Soul Bird: Whiffenpoof  by Cal Tjader
In the '60s, R&B was a much larger market than jazz. ...more
17
Plays Burt Bacharach by Cal Tjader
No review available
18
Extremes: Cal Tjader Trio/Breathe Easy by Cal Tjader
No review available
19
Mambo Sangria by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Mambo SangriaMambo Sangria (0.0000)
No review available
20
El Sonido Nuevo: The New Soul Sound by Cal Tjader
No review available
21
Our Blues: Concert on the Campus/Cal Tjader by Cal Tjader
No review available
22
La Onda Va Bien by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for La Onda Va BienLa Onda Va Bien (0.0000)
It was only fitting that vibraphonist Cal Tjader launched the Concord Picante label with this release for Tjader did a great deal to popularize Latin-jazz. ...more
23
Cal Tjader Plays Harold Arlen/West Side Story by Cal Tjader
No review available
24
Gozame! Pero Ya by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Gozame! Pero YaGozame! Pero Ya (0.0000)
Vibraphonist Cal Tjader was one of the major forces in Latin-jazz from the mid-'50s until his death in 1982. ...more
  • 30.00
25
Verve Jazz Masters 39 by Cal Tjader
The best single-disc overview of Cal Tjader's Verve years, this collection actually makes the vibraphonist's time spent at the label seem more rewarding than it actually was. ...more
26
Cuban Fantasy by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Cuban FantasyCuban Fantasy (0.0000)
No review available
27
The Shining Sea by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for The Shining SeaThe Shining Sea (0.0000)
No review available
  • CD Pricing Not Available
28
Talkin' Verve: Roots of Acid Jazz by Cal Tjader
In apparent response to the sampling of old Latin jazz records by hip-hop artists, Verve raided its Cal Tjader archive to come up with this fiercely grooving collection drawn from nine of his Verve a ...more
29
Fuego Vivo by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Fuego VivoFuego Vivo (0.0000)
For one of his final albums, vibraphonist Cal Tjader leads a septet that includes keyboardist Mark Levine, future bandleader Poncho Sanchez on congas and guest altoist-flutist Gary Foster. ...more
30
Jazz 'Round Midnight by Cal Tjader
No review available
31
Grace Cathedral Concert by Cal Tjader
Unlike Vince Guaraldi's Grace Cathedral concert, vibraphonist Cal Tjader's was not a religious event. ...more
32
Heat Wave by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Heat WaveHeat Wave (0.0000)
Carmen McRae steals honors on vocals. Sparkling vocals and vibes. ...more
33
Several Shades Of Jade / Breeze From The East by Cal Tjader
No review available
34
Concert in the Sun by Cal Tjader
No review available
35
Good Vibes by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Good VibesGood Vibes (0.0000)
This CD reissue brings back one of vibraphonist Cal Tjader's final recordings. ...more
36
Plays the Contemporary Music of Mexico & Brazil by Cal Tjader
No review available
  • 12.47
37
Cal Tjader Plays, Mary Stallings Sings by Cal Tjader
Mary Stallings was just 22 at the time this album, her first, was cut in 1961. Fortunately, she was teamed up with a group of top professionals led by vibist Cal Tjader. ...more
38
Cool Fire by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Cool FireCool Fire (0.0000)
No review available
39
Soul Burst by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Soul BurstSoul Burst (0.0000)
By the mid '60s, vibraphonist Cal Tjader was recording regularly for Verve in a wide variety of settings but with pretty consistent success. ...more
40
Huracan by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for HuracanHuracan (0.0000)
No review available
  • 6.33
41
The Best of the Concord Years by Cal Tjader
No review available
42
Ultimate Cal Tjader by Cal Tjader
Verve's Ultimate series unveils a new idea in the hackneyed concept of greatest-hits collections: instead of compilation producers, these albums feature tracks selected by figures who either worked w ...more
43
Plugs In by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Plugs InPlugs In (0.0000)
No review available
44
Sona Libre by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Sona LibreSona Libre (0.0000)
No review available
  • CD Pricing Not Available
45
Solar Heat Soun by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Solar Heat SounSolar Heat Soun (0.0000)
No review available
46
Both Sides of the Coin by Cal Tjader
No review available
47
Compact Jazz: Cal Tjader by Cal Tjader
No review available
  • CD Pricing Not Available
48
Sounds Out Burt Bacharach by Cal Tjader
No review available
49
Latin Vibe by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Latin VibeLatin Vibe (0.0000)
No review available
50
Fried Bananas by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for Fried BananasFried Bananas (0.0000)
No review available
51
Latin + Jazz = Cal Tjader by Cal Tjader
Vibraphonist Cal Tjader is in typically fine form on this live set from 1968. ...more
52
Jazz at the Blackhawk by Cal Tjader
Latin jazz collectors note: the title emphatically is Jazz at the Blackhawk, and even the most determined listener will not find an iota of Cal Tjader's explorations of Latin rhythms here. ...more
53
Los Ritmos Calientes by Cal Tjader
Vibraphonist Cal Tjader's 1950s recordings for Fantasy did a great deal to popularize Latin jazz and solidify its innovations. ...more
54
Cal Tjader's Latin Concert by Cal Tjader
No review available
55
Latino by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for LatinoLatino (0.0000)
No review available
56
Primo by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader scores a combined 0.0000 out of 4 stars for PrimoPrimo (0.0000)
This CD brings back one of Cal Tjader's best late-period recordings and finds the vibraphonist adapting his 1950s Latin jazz concept to the 1970s without losing any vitality. ...more