What a horrible cover for a good disc.
Spices, heart and brass is one of many albums Lounge to Latin sounds of the 60s. Following the success of Herp Albert & the Tijuana Brass and those German conductor (Bert Kaempfert, Roberto Delgado was born fashion ...); discs Latin influences, or at least Mexican (Mariachi Style). Much of what was due to this Son was the emphasis Section Copper (Brass) but especially the trumpet. Some saw it as a "cult" of the trumpet. The accompaniment of acoustic guitar was very common, not to mention the use of instruments such as marimba latin or clave.
Indeed it was not so much "real" Latin American music (as one might hear in Guatemala, Peru ...) but a pop version of the Western and Latin music. A kind of Tex-Mex music. Mariachi style was just the starting point. Never mind, a genre was born.
Quebec has not been spared by this wave. Aside from the album Spices, heart and brass , another example of the kind is the disk Bix Belair and Gilles Laflamme at the same time. It was titled simply: Tijuana.
also mention the 45s of Roger Gravel and his orchestra Tijuana. Even his trumpet and even use the word Tijuana.
Tijuana is of course the border city between Mexico and the United States. Using the name of this town was common among the groups making this style of music. The word has become a shortcut referring to the intellectual atmosphere festive city and genre.
's album "George Smith and Brass" stands out of the lot because it contains only original component and no trace of the word Tijuana. Viewed from the outside you would not even do an album "Latin". Let the record label Triumph had no sense of marketing, or they were trying to distance themselves from this mode (though looking at the cover, one is inclined to lean towards "zero sense of marketing").
If the album was an attempt to "surf" the wave of Latin, at least it was done with subtlety and by someone who was not content to reheat the "success" in Latin sauce. George Smith has made clear is the album reference of its kind in Quebec. He was one of the few composers / arrangers here who had the talent to make a contribution to the building. Unfortunately for us, no date nor musicians are identified.
As on every piece of George Smith, we recognize the talent he had to create eye-catching themes. He knew how unusual combinations of instruments. He had not embarrassed here to "dilute" the sound of instruments with Latin pop as: organ, electric guitar and flute.
pieces as Sun fantastic, Cauliflower , Burrito mystic, are typical of the genre Latin West. Quick, happy and dancing.
But others are slower, solemn, almost Jazz: Gin Tonic , I have for you , Strawberry Cream .
Exhibit In life, is the only one that stands out because it does not really belong to the genus of the rest of the album. Very good song though. I decry the waltz as a "big band" but with Latin percussion (clave).
The disc is light and will put you in good mood, guaranteed. It's the perfect summer album.
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