Cal Tjader’s distinctive sound—melding the cool sound of the vibes with fiery Latin rhythms—made for a signature style of Latin jazz that is as accessible as it is influential. Although the peerless Latin jazz vibraphonist/bandleader’s Concord years were unexpectedly cut short—recording from 1979 until his death in 1982—there’s certainly no shortage of great music in the half-dozen recordings the Latin jazz legend logged during this creative and prolific period. Some the most inspired performances from each of Tjader’s Concord recordings are featured in this special 2-CD collection, including, amongst many other highlights, tracks from the Grammy® Award-winning La Onda Va Bien (the recording that launched the Concord Picante label) and his rare collaboration with vocalist Carmen McRae.

Cal Tjader – vibraphone; with collective personnel: Ramon Banda, timbales and percussion; Al Bent, trombone; Rob Fisher, bass; Gary Foster, soprano saxophone & flute Roger Glenn, flute & percussion; Scott Hamilton, tenor saxophone; Mike Heathman, trombone; Hank Jones, piano; Vince Lateano, drums & percussion; Mark Levine, piano & Fender Rhodes; Mundell Lowe, guitar; Carmen McRae, vocals; Marshall Otwell, piano; Poncho Sanchez, congas & percussion; Dean Reilly, bass.