For his 97th recording as a leader, instead of welcoming a guest to his Concord Picante date as he usually did during this era, Tito Puente augments his octet on a few selections with a full big band. Puente, who solos on timbales, marimba, vibes and the timbalito, performs a wide-ranging set that perfectly combines bop-oriented jazz with heated Latin music. Among the many highlights are Bud Powell's "Un Poco Loco" (a natural to be turned into Afro-Cuban jazz), his own "Machito Forever," "Killer Joe" and "Swinging Shepherd Blues (Goes Latin)." A strong effort which, as with all of Tito Puente's Concord Picante recordings, is easily recommended to fans of the style.
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