March 22 - Show #78

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez
Song-Artist-Album-Label

El carretero - Elíades Ochoa, vocals; Ry Cooder, Cachaíto López, Ibrahim Ferrer – Buena Vista Social Club – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Mali Cuba – Elíades Ochoa, Toumani Diabate, et al. – Afrocubism – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Djelimady Rumba – Elíades Ochoa, Toumani Diabate, et al. – Afrocubism – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Guantanamera – Elíades Ochoa, Toumani Diabate, et al. – Afrocubism – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Jiin ma jiin ma – Orchestra Baobab – Specialist in All Styles – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Mani mani kuru – Ketama, Toumani Diabate, Danny Thompson – Songhai – Nuevos Medios

Caracola – Juan Perro – Raíces al Viento – BMG/Ariola

Unicornio – Silvio Rodríguez – Canciones Urgentes - Los Grandes Éxitos – Luaka Bop

Steppin’ with T. P. – Hilton Ruiz – Putumayo presents Latin Jazz – Putumayo

Just another guajira – Bobby Matos & His Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble – Beautiful as the Moon – Life Force Jazz Records

Un poco loco – The Conga Kings – Compilation Jazz Latino - A Collection of Latin Inspirations – Chesky Records

I mean you – Mark Weinstein – Jazz Brasil – Jazzheads

Samba para dos – Eddy Harris feat. Lalo Schifrin – Compilation The Bossa Nova Exciting Jazz Samba Rhytms Vol. 5 – Rare Groove Recordings

Summer samba – Walter Manderlay – Compilation Los Años Maravillosos del Brasil – EMIN/WEA

Bert’s bossa nova – Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra – Compilation The Bossa Nova Exciting Jazz Samba Rhytms Vol. 5 – Rare Groove Recordings

Samba de una nota so – Maria Leao – Compilation Los Años Maravillosos del Brasil – EMIN/WEA

Bossa per due – Nicola Conte – Bossa Per Due – Eighteenth Street Lounge Music

Bossa per due – Thievery Corporation/Nicola Conte – Jet Sounds Revisited – Eighteenth Street Lounge Music

Rio de Janeiro blue – Mario Biondi and the High Five Quintet – A Handful of Soul – Intuition/Edizioni Ishtar


Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul has released tonight the album ‘Afrocubism’ by the collaboration of Elíades Ochoa & Cuarteto Patria from Cuba and the Toumani Diabate troupe from Mali. Three tunes were played tonight making the release of the album a moment to highlight.



‘Afrocubism’, the 2010 release by Nonesuch Records means the realization of long pursued project by the producer Nick Gold. He had the idea of putting together traditional music of Cuba and Mali and expects the miracle of the musical communion to happen. It couldn’t be back in the day, and the project became the world famous ‘Buena Vista Social Club’. So, in this album you are going to meet the nowadays renown Elíades Ochoa and his Cuarteto Patria together with Toumani Diabaté, Mady Diabaté, Lassana Diabaté, Bassekou Kouyate and Djelimady Tounkara.

The final musical mixture tries to find the balance to so different musical traditions, getting in the end a good feeling of fusion and an even outcome of music roots. On the Cuban side, the guitar and the usual ensemble of brass and percussion work to cooperate with the hypnotical sounds of the kora, the ngoni and the balafon, traditional instruments from Mali. The tunes are in part compositions by Toumani Diabate and revisions of Cuban classics, as ‘La culebra’ or ‘Pa los pinares se va Montoro’. However, the nicest blend of sounds is obtained in those by Mr. Toumani Diabate. There is a version, which is the final track to pack the whole collection, of ‘Guantanamera’ which is much more enjoyable in its live version. The album was presented in summer 2010 in La Mar de Músicas Festival in Cartagena, Spain, long ahead of the release of the album. Nevertheless, the waiting has been worthwhile and the results of so many years of projecting and rehearsal are contained in this close to an hour experience of fussion of music apart put together with remarkable good sense.

March 15 - Show #77

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez
Song-Artist-Album-Label

Latin fever – Jack Costanzo – Latin Fever – Liberty

Don’t squeeze the peaches – Jack Costanzo & Gerry Woo – Latin Percussion with Soul – Vampi Soul

Agua dulce – The Jazz Crusaders – Chile con Soul – Pacific Jazz

Mambo Bobbie – Latin Jazz Quintet – Latin Soul – Prestige

Soul cha – Joe Torres – Latino con Soul – World Pacific

Woody’n you – Sabu Martínez & Dizzy Gillespie – Jazz Espagnole – Vampi Soul

Lucy’s Spanish Harlem – Louie Ramírez – In the Heart of Spanish Harlem – Mercury

Summer samba – Dizzy Gillespie – Melody Lingers On – Limelight

Mas que nada – Oscar Peterson – Soul Espanol – Limelight

Take five – Tito Puente – Mambo Diablo – Concord Records

Skaravan – Jazz Jamaica – Compilation Latin Jazz - The Essential Album – Union
Square Music Label

Mr PC – Snowboy – Compilation Latin Jazz - The Essential Album – Union Square Music
Label

Got myself a good man – Pucho and The Latin Soul Brothers – Best of Pucho – Fantasy

Bye-Ya – Jerry González – Compilation Latin Jazz - La Combinación Perfecta – Smithsonian Folkways

Serafina del Caribe – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet – To Hear From There – Patois
Records

Libertango – Astor Piazzolla – Itinerary of a Genius – Éditions Milan Music/BMG

Como dos extraños – Tango Bar – Compilation Jazz Latino - A Collection of Latin
Inspirations – Chesky Records

Stone flower – Antonio Carlos Jobim – Stone Flower – Epic/Legacy

Aula de Matemática – Oscar Castro-Neves & Paul Winter – Brazilian Days – Earth Music
Productions

Deve ser amor – Herbie Mann – Do the Bossa Nova – Atlantic

Samba diferente – Sexteto Electrónico Moderno – Sounds from the Elegant World - groovy night club music from Uruguay 1968-71 – Vampi Soul



Highlights of the show:

Among the great set dedicated to Brazilian music, a historic recording to highlight since it’s a symbolic approach to Brazilian classics from one of the greatest in jazz, Oscar Peterson.



The title of the album, ‘Soul Español’, may be a little misleading since you are not to listen to Spanish or Latin oriented music specifically. The orientation is more the Brazilian musical tradition, making rendition on Brazilian classics as ‘Mas que nada’, ‘Manha de carnaval’ or ‘Samba de Orfeu”. The song played in the show tonight, ‘Carioca’, is a piano tune masterpiece. You wouldn’t expect less from Mr. Peterson, and so ‘Carioca’ is a delightful piece taken by a breathless piano solo that reconcile with life and make you being thankful for just existing. Almost the whole album does. Being this said, let your senses be delighted. All the tunes make the piano, of course, protagonist making this album a great crossover of a jazz master introducing another musical inspiration as Brazilian bossa is. As a result, as we could see, a fantastic piece of music all wrapped up under this album.

March 8 - Show #76

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez
Song-Artist-Album-Label

Can’t buy me love (No puedes comprarme) – Guianko – Tropical Tribute to the Beatles – RMM

A hard day’s night – Johnny Rivera – Tropical Tribute to the Beatles – RMM

A hard day’s night – Manfredo Fest – Os Sambeatles – Fermata

Can’t buy me love – Manfredo Fest – Os Sambeatles – Fermata

Para Lennon e McCartney – Friends from Rio – Compilation Café do Brasil - A Pure Blend of Cool Brazilian Music – Union Square Music

No ano que vem – Tania Maria – Compilation The Most of Latin Groove – Jazz FM Records

Ifá, um canto pra subir – Margareth Menezes – Beleza Tropical 2 – Luaka Bop

Balança pena – Marisa Monte – Beleza Tropical 2 – Luaka Bop

Batuque – Daniela Mercury – Beleza Tropical 2 – Luaka Bop

Outro lado – Zuco 103 – Compilation Latin Jazz - The Essential Album – Union Square Music

Xuertnom – Projecto 3 – Compilation Café do Brasil - A Pure Blend of Cool Brazilian Music – Union Square Music

Vals for us – Azymuth – Compilation Latin Jazz - The Essential Album – Union Square Music

I like it like that – Cosa Nostra – Cosa Nostra – RAFF

Latin soul square dance – Joe Bataan with Los Fulanos – King of Latin Soul – Vampi Soul

Te doy la vida – Compay Segundo – Las Flores de la Vida – Nonesuch Records/World Circuit

Perla oscura – Juan Perro – Raíces al Viento – BMG/Ariola

La noche de un trago – Juan Perro – Raíces al Viento – BMG/Ariola

Chanchullo – Rubén González – Chanchullo – Nonesuch Records/World Circuit

Thembi – Pharoah Sanders – Thembi – Impulse!

El arriero – Gato Barbieri – Fenix – Flying Dutchman/BMG France


Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul has played two tunes by former frontman of Spanish pop band Radio Futura, Santiago Auserón, under his pseudonym Juan Perro. The Spaniard brought two hot tunes and made the Cuban traditional music set.





Santiago Auserón, AKA Juan Perro for the occasion and the forthcoming career after this album, left the frontman position of Radio Futura (legendary pop band from Spain which got dissolved) to start his solo project “Raíces al Viento”. He changed his musical identity and inspiration, and left many die-hard followers in dismay. Juan Perro released this album in 1995 and explored the traditional sounds of the Cuban old trova, something so far apart from the pop sounds that made him renown. The change was for good as the Ariola/BMG label release were right to offer a new face of Santiago Auserón before Ry Cooder did with his Buena Vista Social Club a few years later. Santiago Auserón/Juan Perro wasn’t obviously so successful to bring old Cuban trova back to world popularity as the former did, but got us a wonderful album mixing his pop music expertise and the inspiration he found in Cuban lands. The opening track ‘A un perro flaco’ is a cheerful tune setting the happy tone for the album, introducing us in the world of this album, to the common stories from common people in the Caribbean. Stories such that one may live over there, or come across when they tell you about them. Stories that make possible the music and deal with old pirates, beautiful women in La Habana or Santiago, nights of pleasure, joy and party, people (or dogs) trying to find their way in life. You may also find neighboring countries music inspired tunes as well, as some Jamaican related tunes where characteristics guys from Negril come across the protagonist of our songs, presumably Juan Perro, or anyone whoever that is. Anyone can be the protagonist of a song. That’s the idea, in my opinion, behind the album. “Raíces al viento”, or Roots to the Wind in English, are those that anyone may find whenever you decide to leave your usual vital background and explore beyond. This great album is the perfect transition to get more into Cuban along the hand of pop music standards.

March 1 - Show #75

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Welcome to the party – Har-You Percussion Group – Compilation The New Latinaires – Ubiquity

That’s the way – RG Royal Sound Orchestra – Impact – RG Records

Fuego – Manteca – Tremendo Boogaloo – Freestyle Records

Light and sweet – Willie Rosario – Compilation Latin Dance Party 1960’s Boogaloo – Warner

Do you dig it? – Ray Barretto – Latino con Soul – Polydor

Boogaloo Lebron – The Lebron Brothers Orchestra – Compilation The Rough Guide to
Boogaloo – World Music Network

Batman’s boogaloo – Bobby Valentin – Compilation The Rough Guide to Boogaloo – World Music Network

Spanish rice – Clark Terry & Chico O’Farrill – Spanish Rice – Impulse!

Barrio Nuevo – Louie Ramírez – Louie’s Grooves Latin Soul, Jazz & Boogaloo from Louie Ramírez – Vampi Soul

Concierto para metales – Irakere – Misa Negra – Messidor

We are our father’s sons – McCoy Tyner and the Latin All-Stars – McCoy Tyner and the Latin All-Stars – TELARC Jazz

The peanut vendor (El manisero) – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet – To Hear From There – Patois Records

We’re off to see the Wizard – Peter MaCDonough – The Wizar of Oz A Latin Jazz Suite for Soprano Saxophone – Self-produced: www. petermacdonoughs.com

A Ernesto – Mark Weinstein – Timbasa – Jazzheads

Brazil – Mark Weinstein – Jazz Brasil – Jazzheads

Mulatas, etc, and All – Paulo Mora – Winds of Brazil (Um sopro de Brasil) – Adventure Music/Núcleo Contemporãneo

Amorous flower – Altamiro Carrilho – Winds of Brazil (Um sopro de Brasil) – Adventure Music/Núcleo Contemporãneo

Mas que nada – Lani Hall – Brasil Nativo – Windham Hill Jazz

Jambull – Antonio Restuci – Crisol – Petroglyph Records

Spain – Michel Camilo y Tomatito – Spain – Polygram


Highlights of the show:

Among the great tunes from tonight show, a special release took place today when airing ‘Brazil’ from last work by Mark Weinstein, who is visiting Brazilian classics and approaching to jazz sounds from a Brazilian perspective.



The prolific Mark Weinstein is bringing ‘Jazz Brasil’, another album in a short period of time since his last 2010 release in his label Jazzheads, which is bringing his new work as well. This time, the long-life Latin jazz musician, renowned for his approach to Afro-Cuban inspired music, make a leap into Brazilian musical terrains along with his flute and a small lineup with the basics; this is piano, bass and drums, accompanying him. Other than the awesome renditions to Tom Jobim’s tunes as ‘Triste’ or ‘If you never come to me’, you may find the popular ‘Brazil’ which sounds pretty cool from the flute perspective by Mr. Weinstein. He also presents covers of other very popular jazz musicians as Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter or Herbie Mann. The overall sense of peacefulness and achievement of musical mastery is remarkable throughout the whole album. However, the pulse and tense from the first half of the album doesn’t keep up as well in the second half, where the tone is mellower and it is offered a darker, more introspective view. Nevertheless, this is a great album as a whole which will be delightful to take in bits to truly appreciate to make it grow in your appreciation. Enjoy!

February 22 - Show #74

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Chan chan – Compay Segundo – Buena Vista Social Club – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Candela – Ibrahim Ferrer, vocals; Faustino Oramas, composer – Buena Vista Social Club – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Alto Songo – Afro Cuban All Stars – Afro Cuban All Stars – Nonesuch/Warner

Patricia – Ry Cooder & Manuel Galbán – Mambo Sinuendo – Perro Verde/ Nonesuch/World
Circuit

Carmen cubana – Klazz Brothers & Cuba Percussion – Classic Meets Cuba – Sony Classical

A un perro flaco – Juan Perro – Raíces al Viento – BMG/Ariola

Manteca – Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo – Afro – Verve

Cubop city – Mario Bauzá & Howard McGhee and His Afro-Cubpoppers – Compilation The
Original Mambo Kings – Verve

Peter Gunn Mambo – Jack Costanzo & His Orchestra – Ultra Lounge-Mambo Fever – Capitol Records

El cumbanchero – Don Swan & His Orchestra – Ultra Lounge-Mambo Fever – Capitol Records

Way down yonder in New Orleans Mambo – Van Alexander & His Orchestra – Ultra Lounge-Mambo Fever – Capitol Records

Mambo #504 – Fredy Omar con su Banda – Desde Nueva Orleáns – Louisiana Red Hot Records

If I only had a brain – Kermit Ruffins – Happy Talk – Basin Street Records

If I only had a brain – Peter MacDonough – The Wizard of Oz-A Latin Jazz Suite for Soprano Saxophone – Self-produced: www.petermacdonough.com

Aikawarazusa – Hiroshi Takano – Sushi 3003 - A Spectacular Collection of Japanese Clubpop – Bungalow/Rough Trade Records

Kiss – Chiharu Iwamoto – Sushi 3003 - A Spectacular Collection of Japanese Clubpop – Bungalow/Rough Trade Records

Cannabis – Cornelius – Sushi 3003 - A Spectacular Collection of Japanese Clubpop –
Bungalow/Rough Trade Records

Samba de minha namoradinho – Calin with Fantastic Plastic Machine – Sushi 3003 - A Spectacular Collection of Japanese Clubpop – Bungalow/Rough Trade Records

Boy from Ipanema – Jumbo – Sushi 3003 - A Spectacular Collection of Japanese Clubpop – Bungalow/Rough Trade Records


Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul opened today with a modern classic in Cuban traditional music, and ended with a supermodern compilation from Japan. Despite distant geographically and stylistically, both share the spirit of this very program Latin Soul, bringing an approach to different ways to understand the whole generality of Latin music and its relationship to other genres.




Buena Vista Social Club came to light in 1997 and it has ever since the reference to traditional Cuban music since it came to the world attention the faded away style of “son”, which is pretty much a steady mellow and acoustic rhythm accompanying stories of love and whereabouts of peasants in the turn and beginning of the XIXth-XXth centuries. Back in the nineties, “Western” musicians dug dip in the archives and the living musical history in the island and found out those beautiful sounds, maybe some overlooked for the shine of the Cubop or Afro-Cuban jazz, or mambo, or the hype of funk/traditional in the latest years of XXth century. But, the “old trova” was still there, and guys like Santiago Auserón from Spain (from whom Latin Soul aired a tune tonight), or the musical archeologist Ry Cooder. Buena Vista Social Club is a production from the later, Ry Cooder, who took these tunes almost from forgotten and put them back in the music map again. Off this album, more new and individuals albums were released relaunching the careers of Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, Elíades Ochoa, Rubén González, or ‘Cachaíto’ López, who was one of the new breed in the group. Musically, all the songs are good and this album is worth while stopping what you do and just pay attention to its music and relax, or keep doing what you were doing, in a better mood, though.




“Sushi 3003 – A Spectacular Collection of Japanese Clubpop” is not really a Latin or Brazilian album at all. Compiled by Olaf Maikopf and released in 1996 by Rough Trade Records and distributed by Bungalow in Germany, it is a collection of pop tunes that are trying to promote Japanese electro-pop bands in Europe. Among all those, the avid sounds explorer may find that some of them show young Japanese musicians keen on Brazilian bossa and samba. You may find entertaining these electro/naïve pop reviews with a bossa tinge among other purely electro pop, like the tune by Pizzicato Five or Les 5-4-3-2-1; but especial attention is dedicated to artists approaching Brazilian/pop crossover such as Chiharu Iwamoto, Mari, Calin with Fantastic Plastic Machine, Cornelius; or Jumbo, who actually brings ‘The boy from Ipanema’. Japan pop is fun and bossa nova-like as well, and we’re ready for it!

February 15 - Show #73

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Latin Soul – Ralfi Pagán – Compilation Playtime-Latin Soul Boogaloo – Hi & Fly Records

Latin thing – Benítez – Compilation Playtime-Latin Soul Boogaloo – Hi & Fly Records

Backlash – Freddie Hubbard – Compilation Latin Dance Party 1960’s Boogaloo Vol. 2 – Warner

Every Monday – Manteca – Tremendo Boogaloo – Freestyle Records

Ooh! Ah – Joe Cuba Sextet – Bustin’ Out – Tico Records

The honeydripper – Herbie Mann – Compilation Latin Dance Party 1960’s Boogaloo Vol. 2 – Warner

Come fly with me – Dave Valentin – Come Fly With Me – High Note Records

Milestones – Mark Weinstein – Timbasa – Jazzheads

A love supreme – Conrad Herwig – The Latin Side of John Coltrane – Astor Place Records

I remember Diz – Paquito D’Rivera & The United Nation Orchestra – A Night in Englewood – Messidor

A night in Tunisia – Hilton Ruiz – Live at Birdland – Candid

Jambo – Dizzy Gillespie – Jambo Caribe – Verve

The big idea – Phil Hawkins and his ensemble – Sugarcane Suite – P. Note Music

María Domingas – Gato Barbieri – Under Fire – Flying Dutchman/BMG Music

Te amo, I love you – Ely Guerra – Sweet & Sour, Hot Y Spicy – Higher Octave Music

Paloma – Asunción – Pacifika – Six Degrees Records

Bizcocho amargo – Si*Sé – Si*Sé – Luaka Bop

Negra – Nicomedes Santa Cruz/Jaime Cuadra – Cholo Soy 2 - Quadrasonic Ideas

February 8 - Show #72

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label


Crazy lady – Mongo Santamaría – Fuego – Vaya/Fania

Tighten up – Al Escobar and his orchestra – Compilation Kool It - Soul, Funk & Jazz Go Latin – Harmless Recordings

La descarga del Bobo – Willie Bobo – Compilation Masters at Work present Latin Sounds – Verve

¿Qué pasa? – Irakere – Cuba Libre – Far Out Recordings

The opener – Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble – Just Like Magic – Latin Percussion Inc.

Dirty old town – David Byrne – Rei Momo – Luaka Bop/Sire

Oink, oink mambo – Chuy Reyes & His Orchestra – Compilation Ultra-Lounge Mambo
Fever – Capitol Records

Mambo jambo (Qué rico el mambo) – Dave Barbour – Compilation Ultra-Lounge Mambo Fever – Capitol Records

Malambo #1 – Yma Sumac – Compilation Ultra-Lounge Mambo Fever – Capitol Records

Costa Caribe – Mambo Zombies – MZ3 – Self-produced album: www.mambozombies.com

Hippie tune (Song for Josh) – New Cool Collective – Soul Jazz Latin Flavours Nineties Vibe – Club 802 Records

Los Gatos – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet – To Hear From There – Patois Records

Somewhere over the rainbow – Peter MacDonough – The Wizard of Oz-A Latin Jazz Suite for Soprano Saxophone – Self-produced album: www.petermacdonough.com

Summer samba – Walter Wanderley – Compilation Los Años Maravillosos del Brasil – EMIN/Wea

So danço samba (Jazz ‘n’ Samba) – Wanda da Sah – Ultra-Lounge Bossa Nova Ville – Capitol Records

Samba de Orpheus – Grant Green & Big John Patton & Ben Dixon – Iron City – 32. Jazz Records

Corcovado – Everything but the girl – Red Hot + Rio – Antilles/Verve

One note samba/Surfboard – Stereolab + Herbie Mann – Red Hot + Rio – Antilles/Verve

Sol tapado – Thievery Corporation – Compilation Sinners Lounge: The Latin Sessions – Comfort Sounds

Sai das Trevas – Jazzamor – Compilation Sinners Lounge: The Latin Sessions – Comfort Sounds

January 25 - Show #71

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Bella cosa – Mambo Zombies – MZ3 – Self-produced album: www.MamboZombies.com

Gospelanza – Irakere – Cuba Libre – Far Out Recordings

Namesake – Ray Mantilla – Good Vibrations – Savant Records

La escuela – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet – To Hear From There – Patois Records

Perdido – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet – To Hear From There – Patois Records

Pan Wisdom – Phil Hawkins and his ensemble – Sugarcaine Suite – P. Note Music

Paco & Dave – The Caribbean Jazz Project – The Caribbean Jazz Project – Heads Up
International Ltd.

Métisse – Omar Sosa – Live à FIP – Otá Records

Manteca – Michel Camilo – Thru My Eyes – RMM Records

Alfonsina y el mar – Diego el Cigala – Cigala & Tango – Gran Vía Musical de
Ediciones S.L.

Dos gardenias – Diego el Cigala – Cigala & Tango – Gran Vía Musical de Ediciones S.L.

Ojos verdes – Martirio & Chano Domínguez – Acoplados – RTVE Música

Pasa la vida – Pata Negra – Blues de la Frontera – Nuevos Medios

Arabesque – Nicola Conte – Bossa Per Due – Eighteenth Street Lounge Music

This is what you are – Mario Biondi – Handful of Soul – Schema Records


Highlights of the show:

Two tracks from the latest album by the Latin jazz sensation from the West Coast area has been aired tonight as the official release of ‘To Hear From There’ in the North-East Texas airwaves.



Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet 2011 album ‘To Hear From There’ has been another musical asset as expected from the artistically high standards by Wayne Wallace. Released in his own label, Patois Records, this new album is a flow from his previous and acclaimed work ‘¡Bien! ¡Bien!’ So, it is very likely that good things (awards, recognition…) are in store for this album. Putting together an ensemble well known in his career, as Paul van Wageningen at drums or Michael Spiro at percussion, the tunes show a well-done job by musicians who know well what terrains they are passing across. More than half of the eleven tracks are composed by Wayne Wallace, making renditions to Tito Puente or Gilberto Valdés compositions, and covering the Cuban classic ‘The peanut vendor’. All the themes keep an overall homogeneous flow of rhythm and quality making the whole piece stands by itself. Wayne Wallace and his ensemble know well the Latin jazz language which is the first feeling one has at listening. He remarkably approaches the Cuban tradition in ‘The peanut vendor’ rendition, or the Afro Cuban of ‘Ogguere’. This album lets more Cuban related topics in than previous works by Wayne Wallace. ‘¡Bebo ya llegó!’ is a tribute to Bebo Valdés, keeping up the spirit of Bebo´s style. In general terms, here we have another great piece of Latin jazz, which definitively stands up to what Wayne Wallace have accustomed us along his years in the musical scene, making the San Francisco Bay Area a reference for contemporary Latin jazz.