Tambo

The ensemble Tambo originated in New York, USA during 1972, founded by Louis Bouzo (born 29 June 1948 in San Juan, Puerto Rico), who handled bongos, and timbales player Johnny Almendra. Both musicians had previously performed in Johnny Colón’s band. Their sound blended straight-ahead salsa with Latin jazz and occasional ballads, drawing on a repertoire of Latin classics linked to figures such as Tito Puente and Tito Rodríguez. The group’s purpose was to honor the repertoire that most strongly shaped Bouzo and Almendra. They quickly became a popular attraction on New York’s Latin club scene. In 1975 they issued Al Santiago Presents Tambo on the Montuno label, an album produced by Al Santiago that captured the material they were performing live, among them an extended Dizzy Gillespie tribute; the recording later appeared again on RykoLatino after twenty-three years. Bouzo departed in 1977 to join Tito Puente. Tambo persisted with shifting personnel for two further years before evolving into the band Bembe.