Overflow

Edwin Sanz spent years playing congas with European-based salsa ambassadors Mercadonegro and then had a spell in Rodrigo y Gabriela's band before he launched himself as a fully-fledged bandleader. The Venezuelan percussionist's second album is solo in name only, for it's actually an expansively collaborative effort, never dominated by his classy percussion. Spanning Latin dance, R&B, funk and gospel, it features instrumental co-conspirators such as the British pianist Alex Wilson and the Venezuelan trumpet player Oscar ‘Chucky’ Cordero, who produced it and who leads a punchy horn section. The exhilarating salsa dance work-outs ‘Everybody Dance with Edwin Sanz’ and ‘Yo Vengo de Venezuela’ are more successful than the Latin pop ballads such as ‘Ella’ and ‘Eres Tu’.

Elsewhere the tracks rise and fall on the strength of the guest vocalists. Level 42's Mike Lindup sounds limply bland on ‘Something About You’. But London Community Gospel Choir alumnus Nicky Brown essays a great Marvin Gaye imitation on the gospel stomper ‘We’re Blessed’ and Naomi Phillips adds diva drama to a hybrid Latin/hip-hop take on ‘I Put a Spell on You’.