VARIOUS ARTISTS
Latin Jazz Hot & Cool (Music Club)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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One of the stories largely missied by Ken Burns' recent Jazz series (among the many stories largely missed by Ken Burns' recent Jazz series) is the confluence of Latin rhythm and North American jazz. From the days of Jelly Roll Morton's "Spanish tinge" through Dizzy Gillespie's addition of conga to his big band sound and onward to contemporary masters of the sound like Chucho Valdes, Latin rhythms from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil and elsewhere have become so much a part of jazz that the term "Latin jazz" is nearly oxymoronic.

For those who've come aboard recently, though, there's room for a good introduction album, and Music Club has come up with one. Latin Jazz Hot & Cool! features tracks from Latin stalwarts like Mongo Santamaria and Hilton Ruiz alongside Latinized interpretations of Norte Americanos like Kenny Barron and Shorty Rogers in an excellent 14 track overview of jazz music with a "Spanish tinge."

The notes are sadly incomplete regarding session information for these cuts, but, after all, it's the music that counts, and every cut is a gem. It's a fine collection for the novice and the afficianado alike.

Track List:

Hilton Ruiz/Something Grand * Luis Bonilla/Caravan * Paquito D'Rivera/ Linda's Moody * Mongo Santamaria/Costa Del Oro * Omar Valle/Sirius * Justo Almario/Pasos Gigantes * Shorty Rogers/Casa de Luz * Kenny Barron/ Fungii Mama * Claudio Roditi/Rua Dona Margarida * Hilton Ruiz/Mr. Kenyatta * Paquito D'Rivera/Nuestro Bolero * Luis Bonilla/Mambo Barbara * Hector Martignon/Colombaiio * Mongo Santamaria/Soca Mi Nice

© 2001 - Shaun Dale