Havana Big Band Sound!

Artists

Album Info

Release Date: 2019

Label: Blue Moon

· Collector's Edition
· Issued in Digifile
· 4 Original LPs on 2 CD
· Original Cover Art and New Liner Notes
· Hi Fi / Stereo Recordings
· Newly Remastered in 24-Bit

Eusebio Santiago Azpiazu (1981-1966)—brother of famed bandleader Don Azpiazu— adopted the name Mario Antobal when he became his brother’s manager and producer. When his brother stopped playing, Mario decided to start a dance band of his own called Antobal’s Cubans, which became highly successful during the Great Depression (1932-1937). Together with his wife the celebrated songwriter Marion Sunshine, he dedicated the next few years to build his musical publishing house, and in 1959 he continued his work as a producer. He launched a series of orchestral albums aimed at the US market and featuring the best musicians in Cuba. It was an All-Star band under the direction of Obdulio Morales, the world-renowned composer, who also contributed as one of Antobal’s arrangers along with Chico O’Farrill, Peruchín, Gilberto Valdés, and René Hernández, the best in the field. There were no better soloists in the island, and they handled their excellent arrangements in an exciting fashion. These four albums “Ay Caramba!”, “Agua! Agua!”, “Día de Reyes” and “Mango Mangué,” bring us the best of the dance rhythms of Havana with the big band sound of Antobal’s Cuban All-Stars!

Arrangements by Peruchín, René Hernández, Chico O'Farrill & Obdulio Morales

Antobal's Cuban All Stars' renowmned soloists includes Alejandro 'El Negro' Vivar, Alfredo 'Chocolate' Armenteros, Generoso 'El Tojo' Giménez, 'Felo' Hernández & Guillermo Barreto.

Collective personnel includes:
Alejandro 'El Negro' Vivar, Leonardo Timor, Alfredo 'Chocolate' Armenteros, Domingo Corbacho (tp), Antonio Linares, Generoso 'El Tojo' Giménez (tb), Santiago Peñalver, Amado Valdés, 'Eddy' Escrich, Rafael 'El Cabito' Quesada (as), Osvaldo Peñalver (fl), Emilio Peñalver, Pedro Chao (ts), Osvaldo Urrutia 'Mosquitín' (bs), Pedro Justiz 'Peruchín' (p), 'Felo' Hernández (b), Guillermo Barreto (d), Marcelino Valdés, Giraldo Rodríguez, Oscar Valdés (perc), 'Justico' Antobal (maracas), Raúl Azpiazu, Gina Martín, Roberto Cordero (vcl).
All recordings made in Havana, Cuba, 1958-1960

New liner notes by Jordi Pujol
Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol

Hi Fi / Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered