Recorded in the summer and fall of 1951, the eight songs on this 10" LP were the first that
Tjader recorded for Fantasy. Jack Weeks was the bassist on these trio sessions, with
Vince Guaraldi doing the piano duties on half the tracks and John Marabuto handling them on the others. This was the time in which
Tjader's pioneering Latin/jazz/mambo fusion was falling into place. Although the recording is slightly lower in fidelity than that found on most of
Tjader's subsequent releases, there's a fresh exuberance to these recordings that renders that loss irrelevant. In addition to playing vibes,
Tjader adds drums and bongos himself here and there, and makes infectious rhythms on "Chopsticks Mambo," and "Ivy," as well as putting his vibes to more tender melodic use on the ballad "Lullaby of the Leaves" and Jack Weeks' sprightly "Charley's Quote." ~ Richie Unterberger