AMG Review of Cabaret Mañana

Richie Unterberger
All Music Guide

Esquivel's output is pretty diverse, yet it's hard to rate one compilation against another. They're of such a similar qualitative standard that none can be singled out as definitive, or even recommended above the others. Cabaret Mañana is as good as any a place to start (and no worse or better than the compilations on Bar/None). The 20 tracks are drawn from RCA releases spanning 1958 to 1967, including both original compositions and oddball versions of standards like "Harlem Nocturne," "Night and Day," "Malaguena," and "Take the 'A' Train." Whether this rings your chimes or not, it's certainly different, unpredictable, and full of idiosyncratic touches like whistlers, berserk organ solos, choruses of "zu-zu" vocals, Bugs Bunny cartoon slide guitar, and sassy horn sections that blow with an energy more savage than anything else you'll hear on "easy" listening recordings.