Personnel:
Pérez Prado (lead), Shorty Rogers, Bill Regis, Maynard
Ferguson, Walter Stuart, Pete Candoli (tp), Joe Colvin, Jay Hill, Milt Bernhart
(tb), Bud Shank (as, fl), René Bloch (as), Willie Maiden, Bob Cooper(ts), Don
Tosti, Ed Guerrero (b), Shelly Manne, Leo Acosta (d), Eddie Gómez, Steve
Valera, Carlos Vidal, Modesto Durán (conga), Mike Pacheco, Juan Cheda (bongo)
Reference: 74321 984172
In April, 1954, while on one of his periodic recording trips
to Hollywood, Herman Diaz, Jr., of RCA Victor's Artists and Repertoire staff,
found himself rather routinely surveying prospective material with Perez Prado.
During the conversation at which, by one of those odd quirks of fate, RCA
Victor's jazz director, Jack Lewis, was also present and without attaching too
much importance to it at the moment, Messrs. Diaz and Lewis suggested that, at
least at some time in the future, Prado prepare an orchestral work that would
depict the marriage of primitive rhythms to American jazza sort of tone poem in
which the African, the mambo and the basic aspects of jazz would be united in
such a way as to show their true relationship. As soon as the idea was
formulated, Prado expressed a wild and uncontained enthusiasm so, amidst really
frantic preparations, while Diaz and Lewis corralled the necessary musicians,
Prado retired to write and arrange the music. Shorty Rogers was called in as a
consultant, and twenty-four hours later, on April 8, everyone was back in the
studio Prado had his manuscript, Diaz and Lewis had twenty-two musicians, and
the recording commenced as though it had been planned for months.
The Voodoo Suite is the result of that now-historic session.
Prado's score, which called for four saxes, six trumpets, three trombones,
French horn, bass and seven drummers, required a greater personnel than that
included in his own band, with the result that several of the West Coast's
leading jazz musicians were hastily recruited, including practically every
available drummer in the area.
Tracklisting:
01. The Voodoo Suite [with Shorty Rogers] (Prado) 23:07
02. St. James infirmary (Primrose) 2:50
03. In the Mood (Garland) 2:20
04. I Can't Get Started (Duke-G. & I. Gershwin) 2:19
05. Jumping at the Woodside (Basie) 2:05
06. Stomping at the Savoy (Sampson-Goodman-Webb) 2:41
07. Music Makers (James-Raye) 2:16
Originally issued as RCA Victor LPM-1101
An RCA Victor "New Orthophonic" High fidelity
Recording
Personnal on track
#1: Perez Prado (lead), Shorty Rogers, Bill Regis, Maynard Ferguson, Walter
Stuart, Pete Candoli, Don Dennis (tp), Joe Colvin, Harry Betts, Milt Bernhart
(tb), Tibor Shik (Frh), Bud Shank (as, fl), Stan Seckler (as), Bob Cooper (ts),
Don Robinson (bs), Don Tosti (b), Shelly Manne (d), Eddie Gómez, Steve Valera,
Carlos Vidal, Modesto Durán (conga), Mike Pacheco, Ray Vázquez (bongos).
Recorded at Radio
Recorders, Hollywood, April 8, 1954
Personnal on tracks
#3,5,6 & 7: Perez Prado (lead), Bill Regis, Rolf Erikson, Luis Valisan,
Bill Castagnino (tp), Jay Hill (tb), René Bloch (as), Willie Maiden, Nash Maez
(ts), Ray Vázquez (bs), Ed Guerrero (b), Leo Acosta (d), Roberto Casanova
(conga), Juan Cheda (bongos).
Recorded at Radio
Recorders, Hollywood, February 15, 1955
Personnal on tracks
#2 & 4: Perez Prado (lead), Bill Regis, Pete Candoli, Rolf Erikson,
Luis Valisan, Bill Castagnino (tp), Jay Hill (tb), René Bloch (as), Willie
Maiden, Nash Maez (ts), Ray Vázquez (bs), Ed Guerrero (b), Leo Acosta (d),
Roberto Casanova (conga), Juan Cheda (bongos), Alladin Pallante, Robert Freda,
Charles Bilek (violins)
Recorded at Radio
Recorders, Hollywood, February 18, 1955