Tuesday 20 October 2009

AZTECA (1972)

 













01.La Piedra Del Sol (1:13) [T.Harrell, L.White]
02.Mamita Linda (3:42) [J.Vincent, T.Donlinger]
solos: Coke Escovedo, timbales; Bob Ferreira, piccolo
03.Ain't Got No Special Woman (5:59) [R.Reyes, M.Pearson, T.Harrell]
solos: Rico Reyes, vocal; Victor Pantoja, conga and vocal; Mel Martin, piccolo; Neal Schon, guitar
04.Empty Prophet (5:20) [J.Vincent, R.Canoff]
solos: Errol Knowles, vocal; Mel Martin, tenor saxophone; Jim Vincent, guitar
05.Can't Take The Funk Out Of Me (4:23) [P.Jackson]
solos: Paul Jackson, vocal; George DiQuattro, clavinet
06.Peace Everybody (4:32) [G.DiQuattro, P.Escovedo]
solos: Bob Ferreira, tenor saxophone; Neal Schon, guitar
07.Non Pacem (6:40) [F.Núnez]
solos: Tom Harrell, trumpet; Mel Martin, soprano saxophone
08.AH! AH! (3:24) [T.Puente, P.Escovedo]
09.Love Not Then (5:01) [F.Núnez]
solos: Wendy Haas, vocal; George Moribus, piano; Flip Núnez, organ
10.AZTECA (4:38) [A.Bent]
solos: George DiQuattro, piano; Lenny White, drums; Victor Pantoja, conga
11.Theme: La Piedra Del Sol (1:54) [T.Harrell, L.White].

(This Lp emigrated with my heart, from Uruguay to Europe and finally Australia ... is one of those LP's that I will never tire of listening ..!!

2 comments:

  1. Coke Escovedo - timbales
    Victor Pantoja - conga drums, vocals
    Flip Núnez - organ
    George Moribus - electric piano
    George DiQuattro - acoustic piano, clavinet
    Paul Jackson - acoustic bass, fender bass
    Lenny White III - drums, vocals
    Jules Rowell - valve trombone
    Tom Harrell - trumpet
    Mel Martin - soprano/tenor/baritone saxophone, flute, piccolo
    Bob Ferreira - tenor saxophone, piccolo
    Neal Schon - guitar (on 3,5,6)
    Jim Vincent - guitar (on all tracks)
    Pete Escovedo - vocals
    Errol Knowles - vocals
    Wendy Haas - vocals
    Rico Reyes - vocals.

    Excellent bit of west coast Latin fusion, featuring an all star band that includes such massive talents as Pete Escovedo, George Muribus, Paul Jackson, Lenny White, Coke Escovedo, and Victor Pantoja. The groove is nice and smooth, with a Bay Area early 70s sound on the production tip and in a way, the record reminds us of some of the excellent work on Fantasy Records from the time, with touches of other 70s CA Latin soul groups, like Malo or El Chicano. Cuts include "Peace Everybody", "Empty Prophet", "Can't Take The Funk Out Of Me", "Azteca", "Ah! Ah!", and "Mamita Linda".

    Azteca was a Latin jazz-rock-fusion group formed in 1972, started by Coke Escovedo and his brother Pete Escovedo, who had just finished stints with Latin rock pioneering band Santana. Azteca was the first large-scale attempt to combine multiple musical elements in the context of a Latin orchestra setting, and featured horns, woodwinds, multiple keyboards, three vocalists, guitars, drums, and multiple Latin percussionists.

    Onstage, the band consisted of between 15-25 members, and toured with acts including Stevie Wonder. Other notable Azteca alumni included drummer Lenny White, bassist Paul Jackson, vocalist Wendy Haas, trumpeter Tom Harrell, guitarist Neal Schon, vocalist Errol Knowles and percussionist Victor Pantoja. The group was also a musical starting point for Latin percussionist Sheila E. (the daughter of Pete Escovedo), who appeared with the band as a teenager. Two albums were released on Columbia Records, the self titled Azteca (1972) and Pyramid of the Moon (1973), before the band split up.

    On September 15 2007, a number of the surviving members of Azteca performed together for the first time in more than 30 years in Hollywood, California. The concert was recorded for an eventual DVD release.

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