CAL TJADER’S FUSION MASTERPIECE, AMAZONAS, BACK ON VINYL

This July 25, we’re thrilled to welcome back one of the most adventurous albums in vibraphone lore. Amazonas—Cal Tjader’s 1976 Latin-jazz fusion tour-de-force—returns to vinyl for the first time in five decades as part of Jazz Dispensary’s Top Shelf series.

TJADER’S JOURNEY

One of the most influential Latin bandleaders of non-Latin descent, vibraphonist Cal Tjader (1925–1982) began his career in the Bay Area as a drummer playing alongside the likes of Dave Brubeck before breaking out on his own as a leader. By the mid-’50s, Tjader was primarily focused on the vibraphone, and with his own quintet, had established himself in the hugely popular mambo scene. Significant success followed in the ’60s with a string of popular and stylistically varied albums, through which he explored sounds from around the globe, and broadened his circle of collaborators, including such luminaries as Chick Corea, Eddie Palmieri, Stan Getz, Kenny Burrell, and Willie Bobo.

By the turn of the ’70s, his ever-evolving style was significantly influenced by the burgeoning fusion scene. While this period is often overshadowed by Tjader’s earlier works, his sonic voyages during this time were among his most creative, as he experimented with electronic instrumentation, funkified rhythms, and even elements of rock music. Amazonas stands as the pinnacle of this era.

BAY AREA BEATS MEET RIO HEAT

For Amazonas, Cal Tjader recruited a dream team of Brazilian innovators for this fusion adventure. Producer Airto Moreira (fresh from stints with Miles Davis, Return to Forever, and Weather Report) led the sessions at Wally Heider’s famed Los Angeles studio. Arranger George Duke—juggling Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention and Cannonball Adderley’s band—brought a spirited funk to the album (and infused synth-driven flair under his “Dawilli Gonga” alias). Meanwhile, Hermeto Pascoal’s flute, Raul de Souza’s trombone, Egberto Gismonti’s keyboards, Robertinho Silva’s percussion, and guitarist David Amaro all contribute to a truly pan-Brazilian groove.

In his EchoLocator newsletter, veteran music journalist Tom Moon wrote,

“Amazonas…is on my shortlist of albums that transcend genre categories so completely as to define an entire zone of creativity... It stands among his most ambitious and fully realized projects overall, envisioning fusion as a basis for elastic, sometimes frenetic interactivity.”

PRESSING DETAILS

(AAA) Cut from the original tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI
Tip-on jacket faithfully replicating the vibrant 1976 cover art

LISTENING NOTES: SPINWORTHY SELECTIONS

“Mindoro” (Tjader & Pascoal) – A bubbling blend of flute-led melody and driving bass.
“Amazonas” (João Donato) – The title track’s lush synth textures meet Cal’s signature vibes.
“Noa Noa” (Sérgio Mendes) – Laid-back marimba over a sun-soaked groove.
“Cahuenga” & “Xibaba” (Moreira) – Percussive explorations that fuse funk and Afro-Brazilian rhythm.
“Corine” (Duke) – Smooth as silk and sprinkled with space-age synth accents.
“Flying” (David Amaro) – Guitar-driven interplay that soars over a syncopated beat.