PUENTE TITO - VINYL EL REY DEL TIMBALE [VINYL]

Popis - EL REY DEL TIMBALE [VINYL]:
Percussive titan Tito Puente brought various forms of Latin rhythms into the consciousness of mainstream America and western Europe through a career that lasted over half a century, introducing enthralling Latin styles to the broader public from the early 1950s. His 1956 masterpiece 'El Rey Del Timbale Aux Percussions' features an all-star line-up consisting of Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Cuban-born congero Carlos "Patato" Valdes (who had already recorded with Kenny Dorham for Blue Note and who was soon to record with Art Blakey) and Miami-born acoustic bassist Bobby Rodriguez (who had played with Dizzy Gillespie and Noro Morales) and Tito himself. The end result was simply astounding, a powerhouse of percussive jams delivered Latin style. It would spawn several copycat successors, including Puente's own 'Top Percussion', but nothing really tops the invigorating, spontaneous feeling captured on this album. A dramatic, action-packed set from start to finish, the beauty of the collaboration is ably reflected on 'The Big Four' and 'Congo Beat'; 'Tito And Mongo On Timbales' is a percussive duel and 'Swinging The Mambo' betrays the influence of jazz on the percussive styles. This album was so ahead of its time that it has enjoyed repeated demand throughout the decades, reaching back into circulation in the 1960, '70s, '90s and into the new millennium. Puente went on to pioneer all kinds of other incredible innovations in Latin jazz and other genres, yet this album reminds of the primeval percussive core at the heart of his work. Crank it up and let the rhythms work their magic.