Single of the Day - "Tamba 4: California Soul"

Single of the Day (7'", 45rpm)
Tamba 4: "California Soul" (A&M/CTI) 1969
Produced by Creed Taylor
Arranged & Conducted by Johnny Pate

Formed in the early 60’s as the Tamba Trio (led by pianist Luiz Eçaa), this group was both successful and influential on the bossa nova Brazilian scene. In 1967, Eça reformed the band as Tamba Quarteto (appearing on the movie "Garota de Ipanema" and on its soundtrack album performing Jobim's "Ela É Carioca") and moved to the USA, where the group - by then known as Tamba 4 - released two albums on A&M/CTI. “California Soul”, was written by Nick Ashford~& Valerie Simpson, becoming a soul standard of sorts, with versions by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, the 5th Dimension, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Gerald Wilson, and Marlena Shaw. Tamba 4 recorded the tune in 1969 for a third CTI album that was never released. They take things at a brisk clip, layering Luiz Eça's electric piano, Ohana's drums, Dorio Ferreira's bass and Bebeto's vocals (he is also heard on flute and congas) with a flashy-fiery brass arrangement by Johnny Pate.