Roberta Frigoni
That’s Buck Clarke on congas. He sounds great and seems to be influenced by the work that Ray Barretto did on those old Blue Note albums. That kind of feel on the congas came to be labeled the “Swing Tumbao.” It’s basically the Tumbao pattern played by the Conga player in Cuban Son Music, which later became “Salsa.” Ray or Patato Valdéz would take that kind of pattern and play Swing 8th notes instead of straight 8ths. I think it makes things Swing really hard. With a really good bassist and drummer, it just burns. Steve Houghton is the drummer on this album. He is just an absolute beast. One of the greatest drummers in Jazz. And Larry Klein on Bass is amazing as well. Billy Childs and Harold Land both brilliant. I love this period of Freddie Hubbard’s career. So energetic and swinging like crazy. Great album.