Andre Tanker Five- Afro Blossom West

With the onset of cooler temperatures, I decided to revisit this Caribbean & Trinidadian favorite that was reissued by Cree Records in 2018, by acquiring a hefty imported vinyl copy through Bear Family Records in Germany. It has lost none of its appeal and in fact sounds even better six years later. This time around, Ron Reid’s liner notes place this record in its historical context.  Afro Blossom West was released in Trinidad at the end of the ‘60s combo-era. This was a brief, but fascinating and transitional time for music in Trinidad where combo groups played mostly guitar-driven instrumental versions of Top 40 and Afro-Latin dance music with that striking Calypso strum. While groups all over the world were emulating the Shadows and/or the Ventures, the guitar-oriented combo groups in Trinidad also set themselves apart with an underlying and churning Latin rhythm section somewhat akin to Peruvian Cumbia Beat/Chicha. The combo-era of the ‘60s overlapped with the more well-known Steelband movement. In fact, it was customary for parties in Trinidad to feature both a Steelband and a combo. Tanker started with steelpan, but soon stopped playing the instrument to his later regret.  However, some of Tanker’s first musical manifestations were providing arrangements for the Invaders Steel Orchestra, who were also from his Woodbrook district of Port of Spain. In later interviews, he disclosed that anything he wrote was compatible for a steelband to play. After his brief, but formative foray into pan, Tanker went on to teach himself guitar and cuatro.

Combomania!

Further explorations into the swirling sound of the combo groups reveals a wonderful mélange of prevailing influences encompassing Calypso, Pop, Soundtrack themes, Soul, Bugalú and Afro-Cuban Jazz. Some of these bands were Dean and the Celebrities ("Elcalardo"), Silver Strings Combo (“Bonanza”) & (“I Who Have Nothing”), Kabuki Strings with organist Terry John ("You Can’t Hurry Love"), Johnny Lee and the Hurricanes (“Wonderful Land”), Rockerfellas Combos with Michael Bootman (“Mike's Samba”), Ansel Wyatt & Combo (“Springtide”) & (“Stairway to the Sea”), Olympia Thunderbirds ("Sabor A Mi"), Casanovas (“Sweeter Than You”), Esquires Combo led by Ronnie Chan (“Runaway”-yes the Del Shannon song!) and Andre Tanker’s Flamingoes. 

On the Cusp of a New Era

The musical cross-currents culminated in this multi-layered album of high-caliber Trinidadian combo sounds enhanced by applying pop & soul melodies over a Latin Jazz foundation. Recording engineer Max Serrao captures the dynamism of this quintet consisting of Andre Tanker (vibes & vocals), Clarence Wears (guitar), Clive Bradley (bass) Kester Smith (drums, timbale, vocals) and Mikey Corya (congas). Their sounds are vibrant, warm and sea-floor deep. Further, the Five achieve an elusive musical balance that is propelled forward by Tanker’s shimmering vibraphone playing and the rhythmic guitar of Clarence Wears.

Andre Tanker

Afro Blossom West was originally released on Atman Records in 1969. Atman was run by André Tanker (“AT–”) and Herman Hadeed (“–MAN”) and released a shipload of Trinidadian 45s in the late '60s. The quintet immediately strikes a musical confluence that is brimming, buoyant and adventurous.  Listen to Clarence Wears’ guitar “Old Lady Walk a Mile.” Wears’ jazz-chorded rhythm guitar establishes what can be described as a Calypso drone tone with its gritty clang up against the polished round sound of Tanker's vibraphone playing. The song dates back to 1953 and was composed by the Calypso King-Lord Kitchener. 

 

“Hamburg” is whip smart and delivered with prominent congas.  The locale of the song title may have got me subconsciously thinking of the Beatles. “Hamburg” does seem to float along with the underlying melodic and ubiquitous currents of the Beatles. However, I didn’t previously know the number was originally done by Procol Harum as the follow-up single to their big 1967 hit "A Whiter Shade of Pale". Showcase Sounds in the Showroom The exquisite and slinky “Ho Ba La La” would have sounded perfect streaming from the lounge of the Trinidad Hilton Hotel where Andre and his group performed weekly.  With the Flamingos, Tanker recorded the album At The Trinidad Hilton Hotel that was released in 1963 by RCA in Trinidad. 

The original composition “Lena” shoots out of the gates like “For Your Love” by the Yardbirds and features the resolute vocals of Tanker that could go punch with punch with the Equals. The lyrics express a lover’s impassioned plea to “come back.” Their sound is immediate, yet intricate as the song unwinds with finesse to deliver a blow.

Perpetual Motion

At the center of Chano Pozo/Dizzy Gillespie's composition of “Wachi Wara,” there's an instrumental stretch where Clive Bradley's bass climbs the ladder to escape a dropping dance floor. Additionally, the slide and glide of the instruments move both the body and the mind. “Are You Lonely for Me Baby” is a 1966 Bert Burns composition first recorded by Freddy Scott that raced to #1 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart and to #39 in the Top 40. Their rendering of “Don’t Let Me Lose” by Aretha Franklin melds well as they can competently cast its fluid and lovely Bossa Nova rhythm. The album concludes on a rousing note with “Swahili.” The quintet demonstrates how highly conversant they are with each other on this original. The congo drums race away as the other instruments latch to each and move in unison. 

Afro Blossom West captures the group at the peak of their powers. The quintet proved they were not only talented, but knew how to combine their talents for this top level performance. Their overflowing sound continues to stretch over the Trinidadian horizon and connect to listeners in nearby islands and distant lands. All in all, the album presents their distinctive style that will appeal not only to those who enjoy Brazilian Octopus, Emil Richards, Freddie McCoy, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaría and the Afro Blues Quintet Plus One, but possibly anyone ever moved by the alluring sounds of the tropics.