Customer Reviews

Thousand Finger Man

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The astute reviewer below hit the nail on the head when he stated that Candido can't carry this alone. We're not channeling orishas here, so you've not got the Los Papines mindset or the guaguanco ideology to work with. Instead, you think you're heading for something out of the latin-jazz school, or at least something a la Blue Note's infamous "rare groove" series. But, no. You don't get that either. Instead, what you get, is a record that sounds painfully like something Peter Brady would have put on in the hopes of getting his party started at the Brady household.

Really bad tweaky-freaky guitars, very low-key, almost lull-inducing horns that blare occassionally, presumably in the guise of being psychedelic. It's just bad. Candido's playing is, as always, without flaw. But, it's just brought down by the rest of this travesty. It's the same exact scenario that plagued his "Beautiful" release.

Stick with Candido backing Dizzy, and, of course, Machito. There are some other countless appearances to find by him, straight in the traditional Cuban school, which far better pay respect to this master than this release, which surely he did to pay the bills at the time. They really are too numerous mention here, but dig a little, and you'll find them. You'll thank me later as well.

This record may not please latin music or jazz aficionados, but is notable for the title track. "Thousand Finger Man" is a house music and dance staple and can reliably put people on the dance floor.

I can't believe people don't like this song. I guess when you are a disco dancer you don't stop to think of who the musicians are and where they are from, you're just dancing. You think of that later. Sorry this offends you true blue jazzheads, but if you put this song on in any dance club in the United States the floor will be completely packed. We loved the funk of this song! It still stands the test of time.

If you love Latin Jazz, or any kind of jazz, or just plain good music, stay away from this pile of ... Horrible arrangements of bad 1960's songs abound. It is hard to believe this was issued on Blue Note, but I guess if nothing else it proves that even they weren't perfect 100% of the time.

This takes you to 1969. Boogaloo craze meets Blue Note records. The band is great but they're just going through the motions here. Candido plays like crazy but he can't do it alone.

If you want background music for an "instrumental sounds of the pyschedelic sixties" get-together, be sure to have this one on hand. If you want to hear what Candido, the master conga and bongo player, sounded like, try to find "Brujerias de Candido, Candido's Latin McGuffa's Dust". I cannot explain the translation of the title, but I can tell you it's got music for dancing and listening, not just rolling around on the floor in a hallucinogen-inspired frenzy.

candido - funky meter organs meet the soundtrack to vampyros lesbos. a must for any get-together!