TITO PUENTE
Puente Caliente! (Concord Picante)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Puente Caliente! gathers two Tito Puente releases from the 1980s into a single package that displays the full range of his talents as a bandleader, composer, multi-instrumentalist and, of course, undisputed El Rey de Timbal.

Un Poco Loco, from 1986, is Puente leading a big band through a variety of Latin classics and jazz standards, drawing from sources including Chuchu Valdez, Duke Ellington, Bud Powell and, of course, a quartet of Puente originals, including his tribute to his Cubop mentor, Machito.

On 1987's Sensacion, Puente is in the role he was most famous for, leading a Latin jazz octet. This time Puente pays tribute to Cal Tjader with his "Guajira For Cal," and offers another original "Fiesta A La King," to open the session. Then he leads the group through a similar range of songs and styles as the previous albums' big band, including the Thelonious Monk classic "'Round Midnight" and Chick Corea's "Spain."

This is a specially priced, specially packaged offering of truly special music, and a must have for Latin jazz fans.

Track Lists:

Disc One (Un Poco Loco): Un Poco Loco * Swinging Shepherd Blues (Goes Latin) * Alma Con Alma * El Timbalon * Chang * Machito Forever * Prelude To A Kiss * Killer Joe * Triton * Alluya

Disc Two (Sensacion): Fiesta A La King * Guajira For Cal * 'Round Midnight * Que Sensacion * Jordu * Contigo En La Distancia * Morning * Spain

© 2002 - Shaun Dale