* En anglais uniquement
The
Latin Jazz Quintet had an odd history. The short-lived group, which had quite a bit of turnover during its life, is today best-known for two sessions (one for New Jazz and a more obscure set for United Artists) in which it was joined by
Eric Dolphy. Those two dates (particularly the New Jazz outing) found
Dolphy largely ignoring the
Latin Jazz Quintet and vice-versa; at no time does the adventurous soloist and the more conventional ensemble react to or even acknowledge each other! Conga player
Juan Amalbert was the original leader of the
LJQ with the lineup on their first recording (the
Dolphy New Jazz date) also including vibraphonist Charlie Simmons, pianist
Gene Casey, bassist
Bill Ellington, and
Manny Ramos on drums and timbales. The band expertly mixed together bop with Afro-Cuban rhythms, sometimes sounding like a typical
Cal Tjader group and, although not innovative, always pleasing. By the time they made their second recording, a TruSound album without
Dolphy in late 1960, Bobby Capers was guesting on alto and flute, and
Ellington and
Amalbert were joined by vibraphonist Willie Coleman, pianist Jose Ricci, and Phil Newsom on drums and timbales. A New Jazz set in 1961 had
Artie Jenkins on piano while the group's remaining dates (including the second
Dolphy session which might be from 1963) found the band going through 100-percent turnover. Such players as vibraphonists Bobby Blivens and Felipe Diaz, pianist Willie Gardner, bassist
Bobby Rodriguez, and percussionists
Victor Allende,
Tommy Lopez, and
Louis Ramirez appeared on one or more recordings. By the time of the second
Dolphy album, even leader
Amalbert had departed! A Prestige CD, Hot Sauce, combines the band's second and third recordings. ~ Scott Yanow