Live at the Palladium

Rodriguez, Tito

A Time Capsule from a Famous Dance Floor

From 1948 through its demise in the mid-'60s, the Palladium was the place to dance to Latin music in New York City. The hall, in a large second floor space at Broadway and 53rd Street, was home to the hottest bands in the country, and as a result drew skilled dancers of many races and classes. Some say the mambo craze took off here. It's the place where Tito Puente first made his mark, and where the lesser known but no less formidable Tito Rodriguez (1923–1973) held court regularly, entertaining crowds that often included movie stars and other celebrities. The singer and leader of the amazing band on this record, Rodriguez was born in Puerto Rico and moved to New York in 1940. By 1947 he was at the helm of his own band.

According to the liner notes, this mile-stone of big-band Latin music was recorded at the club in 1959. But there's very little crowd noise, and only scattered applause. In fact Live at the Palladium sounds like a really sharp studio date; only the lively, high-octane solos and rippling percussion suggest a band caught up in the work of tantalizing the denizens of a packed dance floor.

"Live" or not, these ten selections showcase one of the most urbane dance bands of all time breezing through craftily arranged mambos, sultry cha-chas, and hard-grooving Afro-Cuban dance numbers. A young Eddie Palmieri is at the piano, and following his lead, the rhythm section digs in behind the horn players.

Latin music historians might argue that Rodriguez's early small-group sides or his later pop records are more essential—"Inolvidable," his biggest hit, shows what a devastating crooner he could be, while Live at Birdland, which features saxophonist Zoot Sims, exhibits an adventurous jazz side. Those records are nice, but as a time capsule of what went down on one of New York's most important dance floors, Live at the Palladium is unbeatable. Even if it didn't happen in front of a live audience.

Genre: World, Latin
Released: 1960, United Artist
Key Tracks: "Mama guela," "Liza," "Satin and Lace," "El monito y la girafa."
F.Y.I.: In an interview in Latin Beat magazine, Eddie Palmieri once called this "one of the greatest albums that was ever recorded."
Catalog Choice: Live at Birdland; Mambo Mona; Three Loves Have I; Back Home in Puerto Rico.
Next Stop: Tito Puente/ Eddie Palmieri: Masterpiece
After That: Charlie Palmieri: Heavyweight
Book Pages: 656–657