Psychedelic Blues

Poncho Sanchez | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 29, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Concord Records
• ASIN: B002HWUU4A
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,823 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poncho Sanchez has done it again!, September 30, 2009

By 

Robert T. Mckenna "Bob from Portland" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Psychedelic Blues (MP3 Download)

It was just luck I tuned into our local jazz station while they were playing the knockout tune and finding out it was Poncho's rendition of Herby Hancock's Cantaloupe Island. Lucky in the surprise in learning that conguero Poncho Sanchez just had a new release.
Hearing the rest of Psychedelic Blues, I've got to say it IS already one of my best. Amongst Poncho's many excellent albums, this one ranks up there with Latin Soul as a favorite.
You won't get as much of the vocals we're grown to love on his recent albums. Gotta love his guest vocalists doing R & B flavored tracks lately.
But in this album we do get treated to Poncho's own spunky and energetic vocals on Willie Bobo Medley and Con Sabor Latino. The rest is just Latin Jazz at its very very best. With arrangements by trombonist Fransisco Torres and pianist David Torres, every tune is a thing of beauty. There's great trumpet by Ron Blake and saxophonist Javier Vergara throughout, particularly on Grand Central. Piano is not so prominent but really nice in Silver's Serenade. I sure like the trombone soloing in Delifonse. Guest musician Arturo Sandoval treats us with his amazing trumpet in Freddy Hubbard's Crisis. All throughout you get that unforgettable interplay of percussion with Joey De Léon on bongos, George Ortiz on timbales and of course bandleader Poncho on congas.
Most notable to me however is the jazz guitar work of guest musician Andrew Synowiec and his bluesy-jazzy riffs in Cantaloupe Island and the "Fried Neckbones" segment of Willie Bobo Medley. You know, one doesn't hear jazz guitar often in Latin Jazz genre. But with these refreshing arrangements his sound fits quite well and perhaps we ought to hear it more often.
Bravo to Poncho for another great album!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Far Out!, January 26, 2011

By 

Dr. Debra Jan Bibel "World Music Explorer" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Psychedelic Blues (Audio CD)

The album title immediately grabbed me, being such an explorer during that era, but I am also a fan of Latin music and have other recordings by Sanchez. I am pleased to now have this outstanding, Grammy-nominated recording in my collection. The infectious rhythms, the strong arrangements, the sonorous brass, and the selections of tunes, including some great jazz classics, make this a major opus. Sonny Henry's psychedelia here really isn't but the entire album is mind-blowing. A delightful sound that shakes my body, a feast of drums, this album should appeal to every Latin jazz fan and dancer. Dig it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Latin-Jazz, November 14, 2009

By 

Melvin Perez "Music Is My Game" (riverside, california United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Psychedelic Blues (Audio CD)

Poncho has consistently carried the banner of Cal Tjader, evolving into a nice compact sound, despite the change of personnel. His pianist/arranger, David Torres,is his secret weapon; much as was Charlie Otwell in his early years. Of course, we all know that Clare"Clavo"Fischer was instrumental in keeping Poncho on the Tjader track from the outset. This is fresh and terrific latin-jazz.