* En anglais uniquement
Gabe Baltazar was one of the last great graduates from
the Stan Kenton Orchestra but, because he lives in Hawaii, he is greatly underrated.
Baltazar moved to the mainland from Hawaii in the mid-'50s, recording with Paul Togawa in 1957 and spending a brief unrecorded period in 1960 with
the Lighthouse All-Stars. He gained recognition for his years with
Kenton (1960-1965) during which he recorded quite a few rewarding solos.
Baltazar worked with
Terry Gibbs (1965) and recorded with
Gil Fuller and
Oliver Nelson before returning to Hawaii in 1969. In the '90s, he visited California fairly often and recorded as a leader for the Fresh Sound and V.S.O.P. labels, showing the jazz world just how strong a soloist he is. ~ Scott Yanow