Cal Tjader Discography Part 1: Early sessions and Fantasy recordings 1948-1960

Charles Mingus (ldr), Vernon Carlson, Richard 'Dick' Collins, John Coppola, Andy Peele, Allen Smith (t), Bob Olney (f, cl, as), Dante Perfumo (f), Bud Hooven (as), Alex Megyesy, Don Smith, Morrie Stewart (ts), Herb Caro (bar), Hawes Coleman, Haig Eshow, Bob Lowry (tb), Richard Wyands (p), Charles Mingus (b), Cal Tjader (d), Johnny Berger (per), Jean McGuire (vc), Herb Gayle (v)

Herb Gayle (v) on b-c.

The two unissued titles are lost. It was supposed they were intended for Release on Fentone 2001, but this proved to be incorrect; Mingus was dissatisfied with the performance of "God's Portrait" and re-worked the arrangement.
Dick Collins played trumpet on this session, his son informed the label after the Uptown reissue was published (information courtesy of Chuck Nessa).
Uptown Records owns the rights to the Fentone masters; all other issues are illegal outside of Europe and were copied from the Uptown CD; this release was researched with great care and its booklet is essential reading for anyone interested in the West Coast scene of the time. This issue also includes a rehearsal with Mingus on piano in dialogue with Ralph Manza "Arranging the intro to He's Gone".

Robert E. Sunenblick, Andrew Homzy: Booklet notes of Uptown UPCD 27.48 (Charles 'Baron' Mingus: West Coast 1945-49)

Dave Brubeck (ldr), Richard 'Dick' Collins (t), Bill [William O.] Smith (cl, bar), Paul Desmond (as), Dave Van Kriedt (ts), Robert 'Bob' Collins (tb), Dave Brubeck (p), Ron(ald) Crotty (b), Cal Tjader (d)

In a down beat interview in 1966, Cal Tjader stated he joined the Brubeck Octet in 1948 and "maybe Joe Dodge" was the drummer before him. However, interviews with Iola Brubeck and studies of photos and newspaper reports give evidence that Dick Saltzman played on the first Octet sessions. All discographies and issue credits listing Tjader on earlier Octet sessions were copied from the first release on Fantasy that simply assumed the personnel was identical to that of the later sessions. Dave Brubeck gave these recordings to Fantasy to complement the later Octet sessions.

Nick Esposito (ldr), Claude Gilroy (ts), Nick Esposito (g), Buddy Motsinger (p), Vernon Alley (b), Joe Dodge (d), Cal Tjader (bgo), Dorothy "Dottie" Dodgion (v)

Dorothy "Dottie" Dodgion (v) on c-d.

Dottie Dodgion on labels as "Dottie Grae, phonetics" (thanks to Wayne Enstice for identifying the singer and composer Dick Vartanian).
Several discographies list a version of Empty Ballroom Blues (4 Star 1294) as recorded at this session, but aural comparison shows it is identical to the version recorded at Esposito's 1945 session issued on Pacific 603.
Another take of Empty Ballroom Blues listed is a misreading of "Empty Room Blues" c/w "She's A Killer" by Ivory Joe Hunter, issued on 4 Star 1481.

Dave Brubeck (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib, d), Dave Brubeck (p), Ron(ald) Crotty (b), Frances Lynne (v)

Cal Tjader (vib) on m, (d) on a-l; Frances Lynne (v) on l.

d. titled "Indiana" on all issues.
This session was originally recorded by and issued on the Coronet label, the records were manufactured by the Weiss bothers' pressing plant. Brubeck bought the masters after Coronet went out of business; as orders for the records kept coming in, Fantasy seized the opportunity to start their own label, Fantasy, with the next Brubeck trio sessions, but kept the Coronet master numbers for the first four issued tracks, which they re-issued.
Some performances are contained in a test pressing in James Harrod's collection; it has four breakdowns of Idaho on one side and four complete takes of four tunes on the other, without talking or studio chatter. The take of Laura on this test pressing proves to be identical with the one released on the Coronet 78. Furthermore, Tarik Townsend commented on Harrod's blog that the takes of Laura and Tea For Two on the Coronet or Fantasy 78s and the Fantasy LPs are different, which I confirmed by aural comparison. All this leads to the conclusion that more than the four originally issued tracks were recorded at this first Brubeck Trio session, despite the anecdotic report that the group had to record them to acetate disc under extreme time constraints (after the newly acquired tape recorder had failed to run at constant speed). Another possibility is that there was more than one session held in September 1949.
The identity of the vocalist on the test pressing is uncertain; Dave Brubeck suggested it might be Barbara Ritchie, who worked at NBC in San Francisco at the time; Frances Lynne reportedly sang with the Brubeck Octet; see James Harrod's blog for details and to listen to these recordings. There is one other recording by Ritchie for comparison which features an audibly different voice (see next session), and only very few by Lynne which have not been available to me for audition, but due to the different sound of the voices I opt for Lynne on this session.

Dave Brubeck (ldr), Dave Brubeck (p), Ron(ald) Crotty (b), Cal Tjader (d), Barbara Ritchie (v)

Ron(ald) Crotty (b) on a; Cal Tjader (d) on a; Barbara Ritchie (v) on b.

This is from a 12" 78 rpm lacquer disc a private collector found at an auction labelled "Dave Brubeck 1/2/1950". It also includes interview segments with Brubeck and two big band tracks (not Brubeck related). The singer is identified by the announcer (possibly Jimmy Lyons) as "our Barbara Ritchie", who worked at KNBC at the time. Dave Brubeck Trio 1950-01-02
Tjader's drumming on the first track imitates tap dance rhythms.

Dave Brubeck (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib, d, bgo), Dave Brubeck (p), Ron(ald) Crotty (b)

Cal Tjader (vib) on b, d, (d) on b-d, f, (bgo) on a, e.

Dave Brubeck (ldr), Richard 'Dick' Collins (t), Paul Desmond (as), Dave Brubeck (p), Ron(ald) Crotty (b), Cal Tjader (d)

Private recordings made by Paul Desmond when he was sitting in with the Dave Brubeck Trio, trying to re-establish his working association with Brubeck.

Doug Ramsey, Take Five. The Public and Private Life of Paul Desmond. Seattle: Parkside Publications, 2005

Dave Brubeck (ldr), Richard 'Dick' Collins (t), Bill [William O.] Smith (cl), Paul Desmond (as), Dave Van Kriedt (ts), Robert 'Bob' Collins (tb), Dave Brubeck (p), Ron(ald) Crotty (b), Cal Tjader (d)

Richard 'Dick' Collins (t) on j-ac; Bill [William O.] Smith (cl) on j-ac; Paul Desmond (as) on j-ac; Dave Van Kriedt (ts) on j-ac; Robert 'Bob' Collins (tb) on j-ac.

This was a benefit jazz concert for the World Students' Service Fund. The program was as follows:
Part I - Dave Brubeck Trio (a. - i.)
Part II - Arrangements with inprovised solos (j. - v.)
- Intermission -
Compositions (w. - y.)
Improvisations (z. - ac.)
w. was a transcription of an orchestra piece for the Octet. The last part probably was a jam session of all players.
https://jazzresearch.com/the-dave-brubeck-trio/

Dave Brubeck (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib, d, bgo), Dave Brubeck (p), Ron(ald) Crotty (b)

Cal Tjader (vib) on a-d, (d) on a-d, (bgo) on e-f.

Dave Brubeck (ldr), Richard 'Dick' Collins (t), Bill [William O.] Smith (cl, bar), Paul Desmond (as), Dave Van Kriedt (ts), Robert 'Bob' Collins (tb), Dave Brubeck (p), Ron(ald) Crotty (b), Cal Tjader (d)

b. is based on "Back Home From Indiana" and listed as "Indiana" on some issues.

Dave Brubeck (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib, d, bgo), Dave Brubeck (p), Ron(ald) Crotty (b)

Cal Tjader (vib) on b-d, (d) on a, (bgo) on e.

Track b is misidentified as Squeeze Me by Fats Waller & Clarence Williams on all issues - the tune played clearly is the Ellington composition.

Dave Brubeck (ldr), Dave Brubeck (p), Ron(ald) Crotty (b), Cal Tjader (d, bgo)

Cal Tjader (d) on a-b, (bgo) on c.

Cal Tjader (ldr), John Marabuto (p), Jack Weeks (b), Cal Tjader (d, bgo)

Cal Tjader (d) on a, (bgo) on b.

There is no evidence that these two tracks were also issued on a 45 rpm single like those from the next two sessions.

Cal Tjader (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib), John Marabuto (p), Jack Weeks (b)

Cal Tjader (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib, d, cym, bgo, cwb), Vince Guaraldi (p), Jack Weeks (b)

Cal Tjader (vib) on a, c, e-f, (d) on d, (cym) on a, (bgo) on b, (cwb) on b.

On Chopsticks Mambo Tjader plays cowbell and bongos simultaneously like it was a set of timbales.
e. and f. are listed in the Buyninckx and Lord discographies to have been issued on Galaxy 705, but so far we were not able to verify its existence. The source for this entry is obscure; neither the usually reliable Jepsen discography, nor promotional material from Fantasy, nor Bilboard listings or advertisements mention this issue; it most likely never existed.
The label of the 78 rpm issue Galaxy 703 credits Vibra-Tharpe to Bramy-Valerio-Zantz.

Vido Musso (ldr), Don Dennis (t), Vido Musso (ts), Cal Tjader (vib), Gil Barrios (p), Jack Weeks (b), Bobby White (d)

There is no composer credit for a. & c. on the labels; the tunes are not registered, but probably were written by Vido Musso. Cal Tjader has a short solo in a.; c. is an extended drum feature for Bobby White.

Mary Ann McCall (ldr), Georgie Auld (ts), Cal Tjader (vib, d), Vince Guaraldi (p), Jack Weeks (b), Mary Ann McCall (v)

George Shearing (ldr), Jean 'Toots' Thielemans (h, g), Cal Tjader (vib), George Shearing (p), Al McKibbon (b), Bill Clark (d)

Jean 'Toots' Thielemans (h) on d, (g) on a-c.

George Shearing (ldr), Jean 'Toots' Thielemans (h, g), Cal Tjader (vib, bgo), George Shearing (p), Al McKibbon (b), Bill Clark (d)

Jean 'Toots' Thielemans (h) on b, (g) on a, c-d; Cal Tjader (vib) on a-c, (bgo) on d.

On the 78 rpm issue track d is mistitled "Rap Your ...". The 45 rpm issue of b lists Tjader on the label of the B side, but this track (Adieu) is from a later session with George Devens.

George Shearing (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib), Jean 'Toots' Thielemans (g), George Shearing (p), Al McKibbon (b), Bill Clark (d)

George Shearing (ldr), Jean 'Toots' Thielemans (h, g), Cal Tjader (vib, bgo, cwb), George Shearing (p), Al McKibbon (b), Bill Clark (d), Catalino Rolón (she), Candido Camero (bgo, cga)

a, b  performed as medley

Jean 'Toots' Thielemans (h) on c, (g) on d-e; Cal Tjader (vib) on d-e, (bgo) on a-c, (cwb) on a-c; Catalino Rolón (she) on a-c; Candido Camero (bgo) on c, (cga) on a-c.

"53-S-381 was originally assigned to Caravan. When Tiempo De Cencerro was issued as a two-sided single, master numbers assigned were 53-S-380/81 and a new master (55-S-451) was assigned to Caravan" (from the MGM Discography by Michel Ruppli & Ed Novitsky). The new master number led previous discographers to assume Caravan had been recorded at a later session, which is incorrect.
Cal Tjader audibly played the cencerro/cowbell and the bongos (during the drum exchanges with Candido) with (probably vibraphone) mallets. Rolón is credited for playing "shakers" on all issues and in discographies, but what he plays is a Cuban shekeré.
Some sources mistitle track a/b Tempo di Concerto.

Cal Tjader (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib), Hank Jones (p), Al McKibbon (b), Kenny Clarke (d)

Cal Tjader (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib), Richard Wyands (p), Al McKibbon (b), Roy Haynes (d)

Armando Peraza, Cal Tjader (ldr), Jerome Richardson (f, mcs), Cal Tjader (vib, tim, cwb), Richard Wyands (p, mcs), Al McKibbon (b, cga), Armando Peraza (cga)

Jerome Richardson (f) on a-b, e, (mcs) on d; Cal Tjader (vib) on e, (tim) on a, c-e, (cwb) on a-b; Richard Wyands (p) on a, d-e, (mcs) on b; Al McKibbon (b) on a, e, (cga) on b-d.

The liner notes list only Richard Wyands as playing maracas, but they are heard besides the piano in track d. - Jerome Richardson is the only one left to play them in that tune. Contrary to listings in the liner notes and discographies there are no bongos heard on this session! Tracks c. and d. were credited to W. Frumkin and Tempest Storm (respectively) on the original issues, which are fun names (the latter was a famous striptease dancer); they are arrangements of traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms.
In an interview, Peraza stated he was the leader on this session, although it was issued under Tjader's name.

Armando Peraza, Cal Tjader (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib, tim), Eddie Cano (p), Al McKibbon (b), Armando Peraza (bgo, cga)

Cal Tjader (vib) on b, d-e, (tim) on a-d; Armando Peraza (bgo) on c.

In an interview, Peraza stated he was the leader on this session, although it was issued under Tjader's name.

George Shearing (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib), Jean 'Toots' Thielemans (g), George Shearing (p), Al McKibbon (b), Bill Clark (d)

Some older discographies list George Devens on vibes for the March 1954 Shearing sessions and New York as location, but this has been corrected in the MGM discography by Ruppli/Novitsky published in 1998.

George Shearing (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib), Jean 'Toots' Thielemans (g), George Shearing (p), Al McKibbon (b), Bill Clark (d), Armando Peraza (cga)

Armando Peraza (cga) on b-d.

On the tracks with Peraza there are timbale-like sounds to be heard; either Bill Clark turned off his snares and added a cowbell to his drumset, or Tjader switched to timbales when not playing vibes, especially in Cool Mambo.
Some older discographies list George Devens on vibes for the March 1954 Shearing sessions and New York as location, but this has been corrected in the MGM discography by Ruppli/Novitsky published in 1998. The 1996 Verve CD reissue confirms this.

Cal Tjader (ldr), Richard 'Dick' Collins, John Howell, Al Porcino, Charlie Walp (t), Cal Tjader (vib, tim), Manuel 'Manny' Duran (p, cvs), Carlos Duran (b), Edgar Rosales (mcs, cga), Bayardo 'Benny' Velarde (tim, cga)

Cal Tjader (vib) on b-d, (tim) on a, d; Edgar Rosales (mcs) on a-b, d, (cga) on c; Manuel 'Manny' Duran (cvs) on a; Bayardo 'Benny' Velarde (tim) on c, (cga) on a-b, d.

These four tracks were recorded in true stereo. Their first release in that format was on the Fantasy 12" LP 8019 Latin For Dancers; they are also in stereo on both Original Jazz Classics issues and later CD compilation box sets copying these.

Cal Tjader (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib, gui, cvs, tim, cga, v), Manuel 'Manny' Duran (p, cvs), Carlos Duran (b), Edgar Rosales (mcs, cga), unidentified (cvs, v), Bayardo 'Benny' Velarde (tim, bgo, cga, cwb)

Cal Tjader (gui) on p, (cvs) on j, o, (tim) on h, (cga) on e, (v) on c, g, m; Edgar Rosales (mcs) on a, (cga) on b-q; Manuel 'Manny' Duran (cvs) on a; unidentified (cvs) on g, m, (v) on c, g, m; Bayardo 'Benny' Velarde (tim) on b-g, j, m-o, (bgo) on f, h-i, k-l, p-q, (cga) on a, (cwb) on l.

Vocals and claves on c, g, & m may have been overdubbed.
a, b, d, h, i, j, p, q were released in true stereo on Fantasy 12" LP 8019 Latin For Dancers, along with the four stereo tracks from the September 11, 1954 session. This rare LP is the only issue of track q. On the Original Jazz Classics issues only a, b, and d are stereo. Whether or not the whole session was recorded in stereo is not known, but I doubt this - if there had been a stereo tape of Tjader's greatest hit of the time, Guarachi Guaro, Fantasy would have used it.
Fantasy 8019 misidentifies q as Squeeze Me by Fats Waller and Clarence Williams. c. spelled Wachi Wara or otherwise on several issues, e.g. Fantasy 533-X. The master numbers were assigned for the 45 rpm issues.

Cal Tjader (ldr), Robert 'Bob' Collins (tb), Eddie Duran (g), Al McKibbon (b), Cal Tjader (d)

The Tom Lord discography states that Bob Collins is "aka Robert LaMont" in the personnel listing for that session, but I could not confirm this.

Cal Tjader (ldr), Milton Aubrey 'Brew' Moore (ts), Cal Tjader (vib), Sonny Clark (p), Eugene Wright (b), Bobby White (d)

Milton Aubrey 'Brew' Moore, Cal Tjader (ldr), Milton Aubrey 'Brew' Moore (ts), Robert 'Bob' Collins (tb), Cal Tjader (vib), Eddie Duran (g), Vince Guaraldi (p), Dean Reilly (b), Bobby White (d)

Robert 'Bob' Collins (tb) on c; Eddie Duran (g) on b-c.

Fantasy LP 3-264 gives August 28, 1955 for Due's Blues. Newspaper articles in the Oakland Tribune and San Francisco Chronicle confirm this recording date and the personnel of a Cal Tjader Septet with trombonist Bob Collins – who performed on unreleased tracks – , Moore, and White plus the Vince Guaraldi Trio (Guaraldi, Duran, and Reilly). Fools Rush In was recorded at this concert according to information from Reilly; Ralph J. Gleason mentions this in passing in his liner notes, although the personnel credits of Fantasy LP 3-222 do not list the different line-up for this track, leading many previous discographers to assume it was from the Brew Moore sessions of November 1957. The Tom Lord Discography says August, 1958 for similar reasons, which is just as incorrect.
Other titles recorded remain unissued. Another track, Journey’s End, is attributed to this session in the Bruyninckx and Lord discographies, but aural comparison reveals it is identical to Land’s End from the January 20, 1957 Cal Tjader session at The Blackhawk.

Cal Tjader (ldr), Jerome Richardson (f), Manuel 'Manny' Duran (p), Al McKibbon (b), Cal Tjader (tim), Armando Peraza (bgo, cga), Rafael 'Luis' Miranda (cga)

Armando Peraza (bgo) on a-b, (cga) on c.

Luis Miranda was not credited for this session. It looks like these tracks were recorded when the 10“ LP Fantasy 3-17 Cal Tjader Plays Afro-Cuban was to be reissued on 12“ LP and there was not enough music – this session almost re-unites the personnel of the March 6, 1954 session (with Luis Miranda added and a different pianist). Cubano Chant obviously was recorded at two sessions and spliced together, the second part probably is from the February 21, 1956 session (the total performance runs 6:17).

Cal Tjader (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib), Manuel 'Manny' Duran (p), Carlos Duran (b), Bayardo 'Benny' Velarde (tim), Rafael 'Luis' Miranda (cga)

Cubano Chant obviously was recorded at two sessions and spliced together, the first part is from the November 11, 1955 session (the total performance runs 6:17). Benny Velarde told Duncan Reid the tune was recorded at this session.

Cal Tjader (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib), Gerald Wiggins (p), Eugene Wright (b), Bill Douglas (d)

This was supposed to be the first of two or three sessions with different rhythm sections for a sequel to Tjader Plays Tjazz, but the session got along so well they decided to record a whole album. Mono and stereo issues of this album had different covers.

Cal Tjader (ldr), Cal Tjader (vib, cvs, tim), Manuel 'Manny' Duran (p), Carlos Duran (b), Bayardo 'Benny' Velarde (tim, bgo, cwb), Rafael 'Luis' Miranda (cga)