Rating:
Genre:
Latin
Release Date: 01/27/2004
Tito Puente was one of the most popular
Latin jazz bandleaders during a fair portion of his career. This slim-line two-CD compilation combines two of his best releases from his the early days of his work for
Concord Jazz, originally released separately as
Broadway and
Mambo Diablo.
Puente explores
standards, classic
jazz compositions, music from Brazilian masters as well as his own works, and is joined by a potent group that includes pianist
Jorge Dalto, multi-reed player
Mario Rivera and trumpeter
Ray Gonzalez.
Puente's arrangement of
Duke Ellington's timeless
ballad "Sophisticated Lady" picks up speed during his brief solo on vibes, while the added percussion gives it an entirely different sound. Likewise, the sassy treatment of
Toots Thielemans'
"Bluesette" is very fresh. The performance of
"On Broadway" showcases
Edgardo Miranda initially on guitar, then he switches to cuatro, obviously influenced by
George Benson's hit recording from the late 1970s. The furious rendition of
Milton Nascimento's
"Salt Song" finds the band building upon a repeated vamp for several choruses before releasing into its easygoing theme, spotlighting
Rivera's mellow tenor sax.
Puente's
"T.P.'s Especial" is straight-ahead
salsa, with violinist
Alfredo de la Fe sometimes suggesting the influence of
Stuff Smith in his solo. The personnel on the second disc is similar, except
Sonny Bravo is the pianist and there's no violin.
"Take Five" changes the standard vamp and adds an echo of portions of its famous theme within the context of the arrangement, creating a rather unique approach.
Puente's duet on vibes with
Bravo's piano introduces the easygoing Latin treatment of
Billy Strayhorn's
"Lush Life." Composer
George Shearing takes over the piano for the inspired rendition of his
"Lullaby of Birdland," which starts with a well-disguised introduction and showcases
Puente's timbales, in addition to their special guest. The old chestnut from the 1930s,
"Pick Yourself Up" is atypical fare for
Latin jazz but the lively scoring makes it work perfectly.
Puente the composer is represented by the catchy
"Mambo Diablo" and the sassy
salsa "China" (which isn't an Oriental title but a woman's name pronounced Chee-na). The budget price of this compilation adds to its already considerable appeal to fans of
Latin jazz.
~Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
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