Malo was a Latin based
rock and roll group. The
San Francisco,
California based ensemble was led by
Jorge Santana, the brother of famed Latin-Rock guitarist
Carlos Santana.Malo had a Top 20
hit single with the
song "Suavecito" in 1972; this song was
written by
timbale player Richard Bean,
bassist Pablo Tellez, and Abel Zarate. Lead
singer Arcelio Garcia, Jr., and guitarist Abel Zarate gave Malo a distinctive two-guitar sound, with intricate
harmony and dual solos the norm. The band featured full horn and percussion sections, in the style of contemporary bands
Blood, Sweat and Tears,
Chicago and others. Some of the best
musicians in the bay area played in Malo, including Forrest Buchtel, Jr. Luis Gasca, and
Tom Harrell in the trumpet section. Their songs had a huge following in
Central and
South America, especially Chevere, Nena, Pana, Cafe and Oye Mama. A well-documented rift in the mid
1970s saw the group eliminate the white musicians in favor of an entirely Chicano band. The band still tours today with the original three leaders. Buchtel went on to play with Blood, Sweat and Tears,
Jaco Pastorius and
Woody Herman - Harrell has become one of the most lyrical trumpet soloists of all-time, working often with saxophonist
Phil Woods. Abel Zarate went on to play with Latin-jazz legend Willie Bobo and continues to play Latin-tinged jazz in San Francisco with his group Zarate Pollace Project.
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