Review: Putumayo Presents Latin Jazz

Because a child’s world revolves around rhythm (often referred to as ‘nervous energy’), collections like this one allow a child to discover new ways to express this natural rhythmic selves as they provide an outlet for their energy. Why not use a little cha-cha-cha to help your little Ricky Ricardos kick-start their day? Officially, Latin jazz marks the marriage of Latin American music and jazz via Africa, Cuba and New Orleans. This hybrid burst forth in the ‘40s in New York City as Cuban musicians, influenced by the Big Bands of Duke Ellington and Count Basie, fused their arrangements with the rhythms and sounds of own native country. From the first thundering congas on the intro of Havana-born Machito’s “Congo Mulence” (featuring Cannonball Adderly’s distinctive alto sax) to the undeniably suave, timbale-driven work of Puerto Rico’s (via Spanish Harlem) own Tito Peunte, on “Cha Cha Cha”, the only takeaway has to be “cool”.

Mambo King Puente sums up the genre in majestic terms – the arrangement here demonstrating the interplay between flute, piano, trumpet and a rich range of percussive instruments – creating a unique, hip-swinging synthesis of sound, Ray Barretto’s “Summertime” might seem a little slow, but there’s no denying the fire-in-the-pants gusto of the Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project’s “Guajira Dubois”, with its Grammy-winning piano, sax and heavy percussion work-out. Ai carumba! Nobody will be late for school ever again.  Rating: 4/5