PONCHO SANCHEZ
Soul Of The Conga (Concord Picante)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Soul Of The Conga is Poncho Sanchez's 20th album as a leader, and he continues to forge new paths in his approach to Latin jazz. Sanchez definitely takes a pan-Latin approach to the music, drawing on influences from Cuba, Brazil, his own Mexican heritage and beyond. This time out, he takes a particularly close look at the changui style from Cuba's Oriente, inviting the Ortiz Brothers to add their harmonies and traditional instrumentation to several tracks.

He also continues the tradition of Latinizing standards that he adopted from his tenure in Cal Tjader's group before striking out on his own. "Days Of Wine And Roses" and "Stella By Starlight" get the Sanchez treatment this time out, and each is a special treat.

Poncho throws in yet another twist with the appearance of Joey DeFrancesco on the Hammond B-3. Though Sanchez hadn't worked with an organist since his earliest days in R&B bands, his arrangements and DeFrancesco's skill combine to create wonderful music. If you didn't know that DeFrancesco hadn't been part of Sanchez's working band for years, there's nothing in these performances to give it away.

If any figure in Latin jazz is in a position to rest on his considerable laurels, it's Poncho Sanchez. But he doesn't, which may be the biggest reason he deserves to. Twenty albums in, he's still proving that the best one is the next one.

Track List:

Joseito * Oye Lo * Venga A Bailar Bailadores * Moon Pie * Haitian Lady * Casas Del Alma * Nengon * Virtue * Days Of Wine And Roses * Fania Fungue * Stella By Starlight * Bodacious * Asi Asi * Rumba De Po-Tiz

© 2001 - Shaun Dale