This early-stereo effort from lovable maestro Puente features some of the most irresistible Latin rhythms ever put to vinyl. The album follows the previous year's Top Percussion, which many claim is the superior item. Either fits the bill nicely, with Dance Mania containing a popular selection of mambo, cha cha cha, salsa and bolero rhythms.
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Jazz Samba Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd 1962 [Verve]
For most, Latin jazz had lost its appeal by the early-60s. A tour of South America by guitarist Charlie Byrd, however, brought the bossa nova style to the attention of ultra-cool tenor Stan Getz. The combination of West Coast cool and samba rhythms would prove a winner and Latin jazz was back in business. A pivotal record.
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Una Mas Kenny Dorham 1963 [Blue Note]
A trip to Brazil was the bossa nova tonic trumpeter Dorham needed to lay down this classic Latino-influenced groove. He also had the good fortune to hook up with young-gun tenor Joe Henderson while on his travels. Toss pianist Herbie Hancock into the mix and it is little wonder that both 'Una Mas' and 'Blue Bossa' are certifiable classics.
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Getz/Gilberto Stan Getz & João Gilberto 1963 [Verve]
Cool tenor Stan Getz added a touch of authenticity to the Latino mix with the inclusion of Brazil's Gilberto-Jobim bossa nova team on this easygoing record. The album went on to become an even bigger hit than the previous year's Jazz Samba. Contains café-staple 'The Girl From Ipanema' and an intentionally off-key version of 'Desafinado'.
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Soul Sauce Cal Tjader 1964 [Verve]
Soul Sauce is typical of vibraphonist Tjader's popular blend of Latin jazz and West Coast cool. 'Guachi Guaro' (Soul Sauce) is a Verve compilations staple, while 'Afro Blue' is probably the penultimate example of the "mambo without a migraine" mantra. Guitarist Kenny Burrell and percussionist Willie Bobo are the standouts in support.
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Stone Flower Antonio Carlos Jobim 1970 [Epic/CTI]
With a host of topnotch jazz musicians in support, this is certainly the one Jobim album all aficionados should have. Although bossa nova records had long-since lost their popular appeal, Stone Flower is one of the sub-genre's certifiable classics. A simply beautiful record, expertly produced by Creed Taylor and engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.
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Bebo de Cuba Bebo Valdés 2005 [Calle 54] 2CDs
A major star of the Cuban jazz scene in the 1950s, pianist Bebo Valdés re-surfaced in the 1990s after a period of relative obscurity. There aren't too many 86-year-olds that can swing like this though. The first disc features a big band playing the eight-part 'Suite Cubana', while the second has Valdés as the focus of an octet. Great stuff.
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Listen Here! Eddie Palmieri 2005 [Concord]
One of the best Latin jazz albums to be released in some time, Eddie Palmieri's Listen Here! features a host of topnotch players in support. Palmieri has been a salsa supremo since forming the inspirational La Perfecta in the early-60s. A terrific mix of standards and originals, the fabulous pure-Eddie title track is not to be missed.
