Dave Pike isn't one of jazz's more famous vibists -- he never became as well known as
Milt Jackson,
Lionel Hampton,
Cal Tjader,
Bobby Hutcherson, or
Roy Ayers. Nonetheless,
Pike is a talented, flexible player who has provided some memorable albums here and there. Two of them are
Bossa Nova Carnival and
Limbo Carnival, both of which were recorded in 1962 for New Jazz. In 2000, Fantasy reissued the albums back to back on the Prestige CD
Carnavals. The sessions are equally appealing but quite different -- while
Bossa Nova Carnival is a caressing, sensuous collection of songs by Brazilian composer
João Donato, the grittier
Limbo Carnival has more of a Caribbean orientation. Afro-Cuban salsa is an influence on
Limbo Carnival, but calypso is an even greater influence -- and
Pike, taking a hint from
Sonny Rollins, combines jazz with calypso on
Rollins' "St. Thomas" and
Charlie Parker's "My Little Suede Shoes," as well as two songs that were hits for
Harry Belafonte: "Matilda" and "Jamaica Farewell." On both dates, the vibist (who plays the marimba as a second instrument) is joined by some heavyweights --
Bossa Nova Carnival features, among others,
Clark Terry on flugelhorn and
Kenny Burrell on guitar, while pianist
Tommy Flanagan, guitarist
Jimmy Raney, and percussionist
Ray Barretto are among the sidemen on
Limbo Carnival. If you only have a few
Pike CDs in your collection,
Carnavals should definitely be among them.