A Night With the Wildman – Early 1980s

Bobby Enriquez

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Bobby Enriquez (1943-96), who was from the Philippines, began teaching himself the piano when he was four, became a professional musician at 14, worked in Hawaii as the musical director for Don Ho, and was largely undiscovered until the late 1970s.

When he worked with altoist Richie Cole for a few years, he became known and began to record, making all of his records during 1981-91.

Nicknamed “The Wild Man” (which was also the name of his first album), Enriquez threw everything he could into most of his solos, playing quite percussively in exciting fashion.

It is fair to say that no one really sounded like him as he shows on this spirited, hyper, and often thunderous set from the early 1980s.

Enriquez is joined by bassist Bob Magnusson, drummer Tom Campbell, and percussionist Ramon Guevara plus guest singer Judy Niemack and tenor-saxophonist Tots Tolentino for a performance of dynamic music.

-Scott Yanow

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