La biographie de Xavier Cugat, écrite par Pierre Carlu, illustrée par Jean François Caritte, accompagnée de 2 compact discs. Deux ou trois générations de danseurs, ont dansé pendant au moins quarante ans sur les rythmes de la « musique typique » comme on disait à l’époque, de l’orchestre de Xavier Cugat. Dans tous les pays développés de la planète, dans tous les casinos, les palaces, du Waldorf Astoria de New York aux écrans d’Hollywood, en passant par les millions de vinyls des surprise-parties et soirées dansantes de la fin des années trente aux années soixante, il a fait virevolter les robes et suer les hidalgos passionnés de rumba, de conga, de samba, de mambo ou de tango. Joe le taxi lui-même écoute Xavier Cugat, c’est Vanessa qui me l’a dit. The music of Xavier Cugat accompanied two or three generations of dancers for at least forty years, swaying to the rhythms of what they called "tipica" or traditional music. In every civilized country, every casino, every luxury hotel including the Waldorf Astoria in New York, on the silver screens of Hollywood, not to mention millions of LPs played at parties from the late 30's to the 60's, his sound made gowns whirl and hidalgos sweat to the rhythms of rumbas, congas, sambas, mambos and tangos... even Joe the cabbie listened to Xavier Cugat (according to Vanessa Paradis). CD 1 : VERS LA GLOIRE (1933 - 1944) 1. My Shawl (Xavier Cugat)) 15 August 1933, New-York, Xavier Cugat & his orchestra. 2. Para Vigo Me Voy (Say Si Si) (Ernesto Lecuona) 13 December 1935, New-York, Xavier Cugat & his orchestra : Pedro Berrios & band (vcl) 3. Estrellita (M.M.Ponce) 9 December 1937, New-York, Xavier Cugat & his Waldorf Astoria orchestra: Phil Hart, Joseph Piana (tp), Reuben Moss, Max Nadell (cl, as, ts), Xavier Cugat, Max Warnowski (vln), Nilo Menendez (p), Billy Hobbs (acc), Eddie Ashermann (g), Florence Wightman (hp), Charles Gonzales (b), Albert Caldern, Catalino Rolon, Antonio Lopez (perc). 4. Habañera (Negrete, Grenet) Same as 3., Alfredo Valdez (vcl) 5. La Paloma (The Dove) (Yradier) 8 April 1938, New-York, Xavier Cugat & his Waldorf Astoria orchestrav : same formation as 3., Carmen Castillo, Chacha Aguilar (vcl) 6. Night Must Fall (Xavier Cugat) 7 October 1938, New-York, Xavier Cugat & his Waldorf Astoria orchestra : Jorge Lopez (tp), Reuben Moss, Max Nadell (as, ts), Billy Hobbs (as, acc), Xavier Cugat, Oscar Waldera (vln), Faustino Gurvelo (p), Eddie Asherman (g), Simon Waldera (b), Catalino Rolon (maracas), Antonio Lopez, Albert Calderon (perc). 7. Nora (Punto Guajiro) (unknown) Same as 6. 8. Perfidia (Tonight) (A.Dominguez) 12 June 1939, New-York, Xavier Cugat & his Waldorf Astoria orchestra : Jorge Lopez (tp), Reuben Moss (as, vln), Max Nadell (as, ts), Ismaël Morales (as, fl), Billy Hobbs (as, acc), Xavier Cugat, Noah Lonberg (vln), Faustino Gurvelo (p), Eddie Asherman (g), Simon Waldera (b), Ray Gonzales (vln, maracas), Catalino Rolon (maracas), Albert Calderon, , Antonio Lopez (perc). 9. The Thrill Of A New Romance (Xavier Cugat)) Same as 8., Dinah Shore (vcl) 10. La Cumparsita (G.Matos Rodriguez) 27 September 1939, New-York, Xavier Cugat & his Waldorf Astoria orchestra : Jorge Lopez (tp), Reuben Moss (as, ts, vln), Max Nadell (as, ts), Ismaël Morales (as, fl), Billy Hobbs (as, acc), Xavier Cugat, Noah Lonberg (vln), Raoul Soler (p), Ramon Lite (acc), Eddie Asherman (g), Simon Waldera (b), Catalina Rolon (maracas), Albert Calderon, Antonio Lopez (perc), Dinah Shore (vcl). 11. Auto Conga (Xavier Cugat) Same as 10.,Machito (vcl) replaces Dinah Shore 12. Jungle Drums (Ernesto Lecuona) 5 October 1939, New-York, Xavier Cugat & his Waldorf Astoria orchestra : Jorge Lopez (tp), Reuben Moss (as, ts, vln), Max Nadell (as, ts), Ismaël Morales (as, fl), Billy Hobbs (as, acc), Xavier Cugat, Noah Lonberg (vln), Raoul Soler (p), Eddie Asherman (g), Walter Shaver (b), Catalina Rolon (mar), Albert Calderon, Antonio Lopez (perc), Dinah Shore (vcl). 13. Elube Chango (Alberto Rivera) 27 August 1940, NYC, Xavier Cugat & his Waldorf Astoria orchestra : Jorge Lopez (tp), Reuben Moss (as, ts, vln), Max Nadell (as, ts, vln), Ismaël Morales (as, fl), Billy Hobbs (as, acc), Xavier Cugat, Noah Lonberg (vln), Raoul Soler (p), Eddie Asherman (g), Walter Shaver (b), Catalina Rolon (maracas), Ray Gonzales (marimba), Albert Calderon, Jose Calderon, Antonio Lopez (perc) Miguelito Valdes (vcl). 14. La Comparsa (Carnival Procession) (Ernesto Lecuona) 25 November 1940, Chicago, Xavier Cugat & his orchestra : Jorge Lopez (tp), Reuben Moss (as, ts, vln), Max Nadell (as, ts, vln), Ismaël Morales (as, fl), Billy Hobbs (as, acc), Xavier Cugat, Noah Lonberg (vln), Raoul Soler (p), Eddie Asherman (g), Walter Shaver (b), Angelo Santos (maracas), Ray Gonzales (marimba), Albert Calderon, Jose Calderon, , Antonio Lopez (perc) 15. Cuba Libre (unknown) 26 November 1940, Chicago, same formation as 14., Lena Romay (vcl) 16. La Cucaracha (trad.) 28 March 1941, New-York, Xavier Cugat & his Waldorf Astoria orche...
