(Latin Jazz, Mambo) Vladimir and His Orchestra (Vladimir Vassilieff) - New Sound in Latin Jazz - 1966, MP3, 320 kbps

In the past, whenever i've been given the assignment to write about an artist, i have either know them for a long time, or have played piano with them al one time or another.
With Vladimir it's been something else because in the short span that i have know him, he has gassed me with his understanding and enthusiasm of Latin music, and because of his talents as a pianist and composer. I met him about a year ago and in that time we have become good friends. It took me even less time, to realize that we had in Latin-Jazz, a brand new artist.
Vladimir Vassilieff was born in Brussels, Belgium. It was there that he started his piano studies with Prof. Smirnoff. After spending most of his adolescence there, his family moved to Canada. In Montreal while in his first year in collage he began to be interesed in jazz, and started to play with different groups. After spending six years there be moved to Boston, Mass. It was here that Vladimir studied in earnest. He was, and still is a student of Mrs. Margaret Chaloff, who he says. "She is the greatest teacher and person that i've ever know." "This interest in Latin music was immediate once he heard it, and before he knew it, he was knee deep in the Latin bag. In Boston, Vladimir formed his own group and soon was playing theleading clubs in the area such as the Statler Hilton Hotel and the "Cave". He was not too happy although he was playing Latin music, the tea for twostyle cha-cha and the likes, was not what he wanted to play Latin music in a simple conventional manner was bugging him.
In Boston, this particular style was, and still is the successful commercial way of playing Latin music, and though it was lucrative for Vladimir and his band, it was not satisfying his yearning for the more involved Cuban and Latin-Jazz rhythms.
So, Vladimir decided to come to New York City, the cubby hole for all Latin sounds in the United States.
In New York, Vladimir has been busy writing what he has always wanted to do. Also playing club dates with some of Latin music's finest musicians has been for the most part a rewarding experience for him. He has met many guys who play his music and arrangements the way he wants it to be played.
All this leads to the present. In the short span that Vladimir has been in New York he already has his own band, currently featured in various clubs in New York City.
This album was done just as the Latin bugaloo trend erupted, and Vladimir has featured one of his own compositions called "Baby Bo Boogaloo." The sounds of "Mi Son Cha" are real good and his group maintains a fine typical swing.
Numbers such as "Mambo Moderno" and "Mambo At The Cave" are sure to please the "hip" music lovers.
All the music was composed and arranged by Vladimir. He used a group of musicians that have been swinging on the New York scene for a lot of happy Latin-Jazz fanatics. Most of all, Vladimir himself has instilled a fresh style and a good interpretation to his piano solos and the group backing him to the hilt, adds fuel to the flame by just playing his charts and hammering away to a solid rhythm section. On thewhole - this record is sure to please every Latin-jazz fan. I for one enjoyed it very much, and i'm sure that when you hear Vladimir on his first album, you will agree with me.
-- Charlie Palmieri

Vladimir Vassilieff - piano, leader
Bobby Porcelli - alto saxophone, flute
Many Duran - trumpet
Bobby Rodríguez - bass
Phil Newsum (#1-6,8-10), Leo Morris (#7) - timbales
Nick Ramos - congas
Harry "Bongo" Rodríguez - bongos, bells
Wito "Watusi", Santitos Colon, Ismael Quintana, Vitín Lopez - vocals