Tito Puente was a brave man: bringing Latin style of music (Afro-Cuban to be specific) into New York. He was a hard-skin musician who knew what he wanted. That is to play his songs with his incredible orchestra. That is it! No selling of to the already set market of Jazz clubs or R&B and Rock radio shows. No, not Tito! He would lead his band successfully for 10 years before being able to record. "Dance Mania" was his gold medal and from this album he established the standards for future Latin-like music styles like Landada, Cha-cha-chá and Rumba.

Album

Label: BMG
País: USA

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 Review do Bugio

I agree with Wikipedia: Little Richard was key to the transition between R&B and Rock'n'Roll. He was a hit maker and this album was probably the best of Richard; who doesn't know "Tutti Frutti", "Ready Teddy", "Long Tall Sally", and so on. He was a strange guy, not everybody like his performance, but fact is he was a power house exploding of energy with catchy simple drums and a great (and easy) melody. Well crafted lyrics are also part of the 'game' this album started and I think he should be given more credit as rock and roll pope -- or something like that.

Album

Label: Specialty
Produtor: Bumps Blackwell
Diretor Artistico: Thadd Roark
País: USA

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 Review do Bugio

I was complaining about Sabu two albums ago because of his crazy drums that didn't do it for me. Machito follow somewhat the same trend with one big difference: MACHITO IS FANTASTIC! The wind instruments were spot on and the drum weren't too loud. "Kenya" is now on my list of one of the best "Latino" albums... this is a proper afro-jazz with Latin soul. Loved it!

The song "Kenya" was my favourite and I felt like dancing listening to it; reminded Brazilian carnival of 1950s.

Album

Label: Roulette Jazz
Produtor: Ralph Seijo
País: USA

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 Review do Bugio

Miles Davis was a temperamental guy with a great talent. This album was stupendous, happy, easy to listen, a bit of a pop-jazz in my opinion (or harmonic "cool" Jazz as some might call it.)

There is nice story about him and the Brazilian maestro Hermeto Pascoal: In 1974 Hermeto had been invited by Airton Moreira to write some songs in New York. Miles Davis came along and asked to listen to some of Hermeto's work (they were both living around Central Park at the time) at Davis' house. Hermeto brought his guitar with him and they played 12 songs and they ended up recording 2 songs together. Hermeto's name didn't get printed in the first edition of the album, but did on the second (I'll research the name of the album). After Davis' death, Hermeto's name was deleted again. I think Miles was surrounded by bastards who had more interest on the money than music. Miles is cool though.

Album

Label: Capitol
Produtor: Pete Rugolo
País: USA

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 Review do Bugio

I'm not a drummer so I don't see the biggy of his ability. I'm sure he is fantastic but to me it sounds like kids playing with plastic bottles. Sorry Sabu! Couldn't hear were the genius was in this album.

Album

Label: Blue Note
Produtor: Alfred Lion
Diretor de arte: Reid Miles
País: USA

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 Review da Silab

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Thelonious Monk is a ferocious player with an unprecedented and clear influence of Latin music in soft saxophone lines along with a break drum bit and a bass with an 'active voice' made this a remarkable bebop and helped setting standards. With easy melodies made of resting endings this album sounds like 'music to my ears'. I'm a bossa nova lover Monk's audacity is almost a Michelangelo painting among the pop jazz that surrounded him at the time.

Album

Label: Riverside
Produtor: Orrin Keepnews
Diretor de arte: Paul Bacon
País: USA

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Count Basie was astonishing in this great jazz sample of the 50s. He enjoyed a long and profitable life as jazz statesmen for more than 30 after this album. Always a pleasure to listen to a great, gutted, piano and saxophone jazz’s quietness and modesty. It is a gentle and delicate punch on rock's face. I'm starting to like jazz after all, finally I understand a little of it.

Album

Label: Roulette
Produtor: Teddy Reig
País: USA

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What we call in Brazil "the ie-ie-ie era", Buddy Holly's first band "The Crickets" is the first -- among the ones in this book -- to use the famous 1-2 rock and roll drum bit. With raw singing voice, almost lacking in quality even for the time, this is definately a milestone in rock history. Roy Orbinson part-wrote some songs of this album.

Album

Label: Brunswick
Produtor: Norman Petty
País: USA

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Frank is the type of pop star that you kind of know what you are going to listen before even pushing the play button. "Songs For Swingin' Lovers!" is another classic that went up the pop charts with a swing and that seems to have been his gift to the world: pop swing music. Bravo! I say. It isn't something easy to do in by any standards. He was such a clever singer.. Very few people can be so successful with such a normal voice A bit like Elvis as well although Elvis looked like trying; Sinatra is a bit "who cares".

Album

Label: Capitol
Produtor: Voyle Gilmore
País: USA

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Duke is more than a musician, he is a maestro. The songs are fabulously crafted and his musicians are just unbelievable. He has been making music since 1929 and by the time of this album, in 1956, he was already one of the biggest names in jazz. I think he had to deal with racism a lot back then, this kind of stupidity was the norm, but he never looked worried or depressed. He was a jazz tower!

Album

Label: Columbia
Produtor: George Avakian
País: USA

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This is the biggest success of Fats. I think it is because he was too good to make it pop. His popest song "Blueberry Hill" (original of Glenn Miller in 1940) was made by joining pieces of the recording sessions because he could not finish the song in the studio and this little Frankenstein (made of magnetic tapes) rocketed his carrier on the pop charts. I think he is one of the best musicians of the 50s.

Album

Label: Imperial
Produtor: Dave Bartholomew
País: USA

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This Italian was nuts. Great singer with a happy velvety voice he never liked his own songs. With an explosive personality he revolutionazed Jazz with the help of Sam Butera, saxofonist. "Body and Soul" is my favourite from this album, a bit serious, great easy-to-understand Jazz (with no singing funny enough).

Album

Label: Capitol
Produtor: Voyle Gilmore
País: USA

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These were crazy guys, talking about sins and devils back in 1957. I think they were the ones to give the first step towards 'dark-like' styles of lyrics. The songs are unitestadian Country with interesting stories like "I'll put my horse in the run and if I get a green bag I sure will have some fun...” Like them, not my type of music though.

Album

Label: Capitol
Produtor: Ken Nelson
País: USA

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Elvis Presley (1956) - Elvis Presley


Album title: Elvis Presley
Year of recording: 1956
Artist: Elvis Presley
Label: RCA
Producer:
Art Director: William V. Robertson
Country: USA

Thales Jacobi
Sep 10, 2010
"Raw, faulty,energetic... pure rock'n'roll"

5 out of 5

With an album entitled with his name, Elvis Presley is a beauty for rock'n'roll fans. Raw, with technical faults, energetic and innovative this is one of my favourite albums of all time. "Money Honey" is especially melodic and the guitar is great -- for the time. I'm suspicious to talk about Elvis: I'm a collector and a fan. Don't really know why I just think he did stand out from the incredible line up of the pop artists from the 50s. He was competing against the poet Frank Sinatra, the maestro Duke Ellington, the woop-bop-bam-boom Little Richard as well as the powerful Billie Holiday. Elvis, well he was normal! Normal but with focus, he tried and tried and finally hit the top spot and didn't let it go. I like and admire him and you will definitely read me saying good things about his albums and his career.

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In the wee small hours (1955) - Frank Sinatra
Label: Capitol
Producer: Voyle Gilmore
Art Director: Tommy Steele
Country: USA

"Deep, sad, gorgeus!"

Thales Jacobi

May 25, 2010

3 out of 5

You have to understand Sinatra: he had just broken up with his girlfriend and had no money. This album paints this picture. It is a brilliant bland of well orchestrated and rehearsed music with the deep sadness of a poetic broken heart. Not to cheer you up.

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