I have long admired the music of Tito Puente, the most individually gifted of all the Latin bandleaders who have kept a foot in the jazz camp. As a performer on timbales Puente has no equal and the excitement he can generate is quite remarkable, as the opening Oye Como Va demonstrates.
This album allows us to hear more of Puente’s vibes than has previously been the case. He’s no Hampton but a very sensitive performer, all the same.
The two John Coltrane tunes, Giant Steps and Equinox, adapt well to the Latin idiom and lose none of their intense harmonic qualities in so doing. Pianist Daito contributes an exciting, percussive solo on the latter and Rivera’s brief, gushing tenor statement on the former lingers in the memory.
Linda is a pleasant little theme which Rivera’s flute makes the most of and there are also some very engaging passages by Dalto’s electric piano. Ran and El Rey, as the titles might suggest, are numbers which spotlight the leader’s talents as a timbalero.
I have enjoyed listening to this album very much and consider it to be one of Puente’s best since he began recording for Concord.
Discography
Oye Como Va; Autumn Leaves; Ran Kan Kan; Rainfall; Giant Steps (23.19) – Linda Chicana; Stella By Starlight; Delirio; Equinox; El Rey Del Timbal (23.05)
Tito Puente (timb/vib/v); Mario Rivera (f/ss/ ts); Ray Gonsalves (t/flh); Jimmy Frisaura (vtb); Jorge Dalto (p/elp); Bobby Rodriguez (b); Francisco Aguabella, Johnny Rodriguez, Jose Madera (perc/v). San Francisco May, 1984.
(Concord Picante CJP-250)
