专辑简介

by Chris Nickson

Tito Puente had an illustrious career, both as a performer and as a composer, one of the most influential Latin musicians of the 20th century. This compilation draws on what could be considered his most prolific and adventurous time, the 30 years from the mid-'50s to the mid-'80s. Given the amount of material in that period, selecting just 21 tracks to represent Puente's music is a challenge, but one that's been taken on and largely conquered here. Sadly there's nothing from his live at Birdland discs, due to licensing problems, but this compensates for that with a relentless stream of melody and percussion, with Puente's vibes and timbales leading from the front with the kind of passionate energy that can't be faked. There are a couple of wonderful duets with the late Celia Cruz, and, of course, the disc wouldn't be complete without Puente's original version of "Oye Como Va," which of course became a major hit for Santana. It's worth remembering that during this period Puente led the transition from the popular mambo style into salsa, keeping his crown the whole time. The disc shows his remarkable breadth as a musician, as well as his vision for Latin music, equally fluent in jazz as Latin. A remarkable man, musician, and bandleader, this is a disc that does him justice.