Salsa Salsa

In January 1983 Tito Puente took his orchestra to a club in New York, for a rousing and historic session. British producer Chris Warwick had persuaded the undisputed king of Latin jazz to let him record his celebrated musicians using the (then) latest in digital technology – an enterprise that had required Chris to fly to New York with a large wad of dollars stuffed in his socks and pants. The recordings first appeared on CD (predictably bootlegged) but now at last comes the official album version, lovingly mastered on vinyl by Geoff Pesche at Abbey Road. The new sound quality is as thrilling as the music. Tito and his band (which included ten brass players, five percussionists and two singers) clearly enjoyed themselves. They are in glorious, exuberant form, switching from songs by Cuban stars Beny Moré and Antar Daly to Tito’s own compositions, including ‘Oye Como Va’, once recorded by Santana and here featuring trombone player Jimmy Frisaura, who played on the original 1962 recording. Elsewhere on Salsa Salsa, there are driving timbales solos from Tito, while ‘Que Bueno Baila Usted’ is a reminder that here was a bandleader who could mix fun, fabulous dance songs and inspired musicianship. Play it loud.