(descarga, cubana, latin-jazz) Nino Rivera & Julio Gutierrez - Jam Sessions 1957-1958 - 2000, APE (image+.cue), lossless

Descarga, i.e. Latin jam session (“descargar” here means “to jam”) or conjunto (small combo) improvisation, is generally associated with famous Cuban bass player Israel “Cachao” López who developed it in US in the late 50s. However, there were other early descarga sessions which took place in the 50s both in US and in Cuba, led by other bandleaders: tres player Andrés Echevarría (a.k.a. Niño Rivera), pianists Julio Gutiérrez, Pedro "Peruchín Sr." Jústiz and Bebo Valdés, timbalero/drummer Walfredo De Los Reyes etc.
Niño Rivera (1919-1996) earlier has played with typical sextets such as Gloria Habanera and the legendary Sexteto Boloña. Starting from a son background, El Niño then began to assimilate other genres and musical styles. In the late 40s he created his own conjunto, Rey de Reyes, attempting a fusion of bebop and Cuban music. El Niño called his new style Cubibop as he blended elements of son, danzón, mambo, feelin with bebop (see #4 as an example). What’s most interesting is that Cubibop emerged totally independently from New York Cubop, which will gain world fame and bring together performers such as Dizzy Gillespie, Mario Bauzá, Machito, Chano Pozo and Charlie Parker.
Pianist and composer Julio Gutiérrez (1912-1990) played with famous Orquesta Casino de la Playa since 1941. Since 1948 he conducted jazz orchestra for RHC broadcasting station. In its line-up there were some musicians who played on these descarga sessions: trumpeter Negro Vivar (who later played with Machito etc. in NY), bassman Bol Vivar, tenor Emilio Peñalver, percussionist Oscar Valdés.
These records also feature such celebrities as Orestes López (Cachao’s elder brother), giant conguero Tata Güines, flautist Richard Egües (Orquesta Aragón etc.). Some credits remain obscure. For example, I’m pretty sure that on “Montuno Guajiro” lead vocals was sung by Miguelito Cuní.
The second session is quite muddled and childish. I strongly suspect that it's not the recording they describe in the credits: it's very strange for descarga session led by a pianist, even by two of them, to contain 2 pure rumba numbers out of 4... and these rumba numbers are the best. I hope to rehabilitate Gutiérrez' honest name later with his (definitely his!) other session (very good!) recorded about the same time. But the first session here (led by Niño Rivera) is really great and it can't be found anywhere else.

#1-4, Niño Rivera y sus Cubans All Stars:
Niño Rivera - tres;
Orestes López - piano;
Alejandro "Negro" Vivar - trumpet;
Emilio Peñalver - tenor sax;
Richard Egües - flute;
Salvador "Bol" Vivar - bass;
Guillermo Barreto - timbales;
Yeyito Iglesias - bongó;
Tata Güines - conga;
Gustavo Tamayo - güiro.
#5-8, Julio Gutiérrez y su Orquesta:
Julio Gutiérrez - piano;
Pedro "Peruchín" Jústiz - piano;
Alejandro "Negro" Vivar - trumpet;
Oscar Valdés, Sr. - bongó;
Salvador "Bol" Vivar - bass;
Marcelino Valdés - conga;
Emilio Peñalver - tenor sax.