Sabu Martinez - Sabu's Jazz Espagnole - LP Vinyl

One of the great influential figures of Latin Jazz percussion is that of Louis "Sabu" Martinez, who had been performing in groups and ensembles as early as the age of 11. Over the decades of his live, Martinez had worked with some of the greatest names in latin, jazz, and swing history, from Benny Goodman and Count Basie to Thelonius Monk and Charles Mingus to Tony Bennett and Harry Belafonte. Later after many years of session playing, he would lead his own band, which would go on to record several essential albums in latin jazz, including Palo Congo, which was listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Listen To Before You Die, before later re-locating to Sweden in the late 1960s.

Before his exit from North America, Martinez recorded one of the finest collections of Latin jazz set to wax. Sabu's Jazz Espagnole was noteworthy for its innovative arrangements, which reinterpreted standard arrangements of the genre, by imposing them over high-energy boleros, mambos, sambas, and other classic Latin sounds. Martinez was also performing alongside a powerhouse lineup of session musicians from behind his congas, including Bill Salter on bass, Bobby Porcelli on saxophone, Marty Sheller on trumpet, and Louie Ramirez on percussion.

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