Customer Reviews

Voodoo Suite / Exotic Suite

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!!!

"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.

When I was young, I heard the Voodoo Suite and I was memerized. Now, 40 years later, it sounds like an amatuer mambo band playing stupid music. I believe this Voodoo Suite is NOT the original Perez Parado composition although it purports to be. My taste in music has not changed over all these years.

Ivan Newman