Sabu with Dizzy Gillespie

These tracks were recorded Dec. 29, 1948, shortly after Sabu replaced the recently gunned-down Chano Pozo [Gonzales] in Dizzy Gillespie's last big band. Sabu provides the vocal on Pozo's signature hit, "Guarachi Guaro." Years later the tune was revived once again as "Soul Sauce" by Cal Tjader.

Personnel:

Sabu tracks:

Duff Capers (Linton Garner) 4:13

Lover Come Back to Me (Hammerstein-Romberg) - 3:26

I'm Be Boppin' Too (Lorraine Gillespie) - 2:15

I'm Be Boppin' Too (Lorraine Gillespie) - 2:21

Guarachi Guaro (Dizzy Gillespie-Chano Pozo) - 3:08

This session is on several records, including:

Dizzy Gillespie: 16 Rare Performances; RCA Vintage Series LPV; 1966

Dizzy Gillespie Vol. 1/2 (1946-1949); RCA PM-42-408; 1979 (France)

An early LP with most of these tracks (Sabu on at least one, earlier versions with Chano Pozo):

Dizzy Gillespie: Dizzier & Dizzier; RCA Victor LJM-1009; c.1955

"Guarachi Guaro" also appears on:

When Be-Bop Met the Big Band; RCA 741095; 1974

"Diz"; RCA Vintage Series; Pickwick Camden Quintessence Jazz Series QJ-25071; 1978

Sabu plays bongos. Leonard Feather notes that "Guarachi Guaro" is "a Gillespie composition arranged by Gerald Wilson. This reminder of Dizzy's pioneer role in the Afro-Cuban fusion has a call-and-response passage involving Sabu Martinez and the band." (It's also a very much a reminder of "Manteca.")

Sabu with J.J. Johnson

The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Vols. 1 & 2; Blue Note BLP-1505 and -1506; 1960/1954

Sabu tracks recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, Sept. 24, 1954.

Personnel on Sabu tracks:

Jay Jay Johnson, trombone

Wynton Kelly, piano

Charlie Mingus, bass

Kenny Clarke, drums

Sabu Martinez, congas

Sabu tracks (in order of recording):

Old Devil Moon (Lane-Harburg) - 3:49

Jay (Johnson) - 3:38

Time After Time (Styne-Cahn) - 4:04

Too Marvelous for Words (Mercer-Whiting) - 3:34

It's You or No One (Styne-Cahn) - 4:04

Coffee Pot (Johnson) - 4:07

Note: All Sabu tracks except "Time After Time" are on one volume of the LPs. All of the Sabu tracks are collected on one CD reissue (Volume 2), however.

Sabu with Louis Bellson

Louis Bellson: The Driving Louis Bellson; Norgran MGN-1020; 1955

Sabu plays on one track, presumably "Mambo a la Louis Bellson."

Sabu with Tony Bennett

The Beat of My Heart; Columbia CL-1079; 1958

Personnel on Sabu tracks:

Tony Bennett

Sabu Martinez

Candido

Billy Exiner

Herbie Mann

Robert Jasper

William Slapin

Vincent Vittorio

Spencer Sinatra

Also on the album are Art Blakey, Chico Hamilton, Kai Winding, Eddie Costa, Al Cohn, Milt Hinton, Nat Adderley, and others.

Sabu tracks:

Let There Be Love

Love for Sale

So Beats My Heart for You

Let's Face the Music and Dance

Sabu on Crown compilation

Various: Jazz Confidential; Crown [CST?-] CLP-5056

Sabu plays on "Wash Out."

Also allegedly on the album are Dave Brubeck, Cal Tjader, Jimmy Giuffre, Stan Getz, Shelly Manne, Shorty Rogers, Erroll Garner, Paul Desmond, Sonny Criss, Wardell Gray, Red Norvo, Charlie Shavers, Louis Bellson, Ben Webster, Irving Ashby, Red Callender, Jackie Mills, Willie Smith, and Oscar Moore.