Voodoo Suite / Exotic Suite

Perez Prado | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 6, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bear Family
• ASIN: B000001AVY
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,176 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #17 in Music > Indie Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba
  • #18 in Music > Indie Music > Latin Music > Salsa & Merengue
  • #26 in Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > Cuba > Big Band

Track Listings

1. The Voodoo Suite (Afro Cuban Jazz Suite) [& Shorty Rogers]

2. St. James Infirmary

3. In the Mood

4. I Can't Get Started

5. Jumping at the Woodside

6. Stompin' at the Savoy

7. Music Makers

8. Exotic Suite of the Americans [Theme of Two Worlds/Exotic Suite of the]

9. Midnight in Jamaica

10. Mama Yo Quiero

11. Son of a Gun

12. Jacqueline and Caroline

13. El Relicario

14. I Could Have Danced All Night

Editorial Reviews

(2 LPs on 1 CD + 32-page booklet) By 1954, the Mambo craze Prado sparked entitled him to the luxury of a serious project, namely his four-part Voodoo Suite, which called on the talents of such Hollywood jazz session greats as trumpeters Maynard Ferguson, Shorty Rogers, and drummer Eddie Gomez. Eight years later, Prado recorded his seven-part Exotic Suite Of The Americas with a full orchestra and many of New York's jazz session elite (including Doc Severinson). Aside from the two lengthy suites here, the dozen other 1954-1962 selections range from Latinized big band standards (In The Mood) to brassy tunes with a hint of rock 'n roll (Son Of A Gun) and even a tribute to the era's First Lady (and daughter), Jacqueline And Caroline. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A one-of-a-kind trip through the history of music, October 7, 1998

By 

Bob ([e-mail]) (Kirkland, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Voodoo Suite / Exotic Suite (Audio CD)

The first half of this album is an incredibly authentic-feeling, as well as truly entertaining, exploration of the development of jazz. It starts with hypnotic tribal chanting, then moves into ritualistic drumming and talking drums, and eventually ends up in a wild, Afro-Cuban big band jam. If this sounds academic at all, forget it. This album swings from beginning to end. I've had the album for 35 years, and I still look forward to hearing it. The second half is typical Perez Prado; hard-swinging Afro-Cuban big band mambo madness.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MAMBO ON !!!, February 1, 2005

By 

Richard J. Oravitz - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Voodoo Suite / Exotic Suite (Audio CD)

GREAT... WACKY... TRIBAL... PULSATING...MONDO...WEIRD...20+ minutes of VOODOO SUITE, kindda like Martin Denny lost in the Twilight Zone!!! ST. JAMES INFIRMARY is also REALLY STRANGE (unique).In fact, the whole DOUBLE-ALBUM cd rocks/swings/grunts/moans & hypnotizes the listener into craving more. This is REALLY a pretty good time & I loved every minute of it. Give it a try...just imagine Ricky Riccardo & Fred Mertz having the lead roles in the cult film FORBIDDEN ZONE...Oingo Boingo!!!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, September 9, 2009

By 

Burton Robinson - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Voodoo Suite / Exotic Suite of the Americas (Audio CD)

"Voodoo Suite/Exotic Suite" - two LPs, one CD of
incredible depth. It ranges from ethereal to somber
before doubling back to the festive flirting with the relaxing.

Perez Prado and Shorty Rogers remain obscure -
My first exposure to Prado's work was "Mondo Mambo."

Lou Bega's association with Mambo No. 5 left an
unfortunately saccharin taste in my mouth rendering
"Mondo Mambo" a private pleasure.

However, after a viewing of "Aventurera" and its
accompanying commentary, the works of Perez Prado
gained a renewed personal reverence.

To the unfamiliar, I might describe this disc as
A long James Brown jam in a rumba style - though
Brown likely garnered some of his showmanship from
Prado and others of the same era.

Any audio fidelity issues can be resolved with a
decent equalizer.