Metiendo Mano
Artist: Willie Colón
Community Score: 3.00

Salsa history in the making: the album in which Willie Colon introduced Ruben Blades to the wider world. An obvious classic, given Blades's subsequent history, but it's also a gorgeous album with Yomo Toro on two tracks (one playing guitar), the great pianist Sonny Bravo on two cuts, and ace percussion with Milton Cardona and Nicky Marrero. ~... Read More

Afro Blue: The Picante Collection
Artist: Mongo Santamaria

In assembling its own "Mongo's Greatest Hits" entry, Concord Picante had only a slim catalog of four albums, a narrow time frame, and one of Mongo's less incendiary phases to choose from. But they stuck with a purist concept, avoiding pop covers and experiments, targeting Mongo's vintage standards and numbers that conjure some of the old... Read More

Oye Como Va: The Dance Collection
Artist: Tito Puente

Given Tito Puente's staggeringly prolific output on recordings, obviously no single disc can sum it up, so Concord Picante sensibly calls this compendium a "dance" collection. With the aim to keep the mambos, guajiras and cha-chas moving and grooving foremost in mind, there is still a great deal of variety in this CD -- powerhouse big-band... Read More

My Summertime
Artist: Ray Barretto

Ray Barretto (a master of the congas) has effectively fused together bop-oriented jazz with Latin rhythms to form a particularly viable version of Afro-Cuban jazz; he hates the term "Latin jazz." Rather than sounding like two forms of music, Barretto's group New World Spirit shows that Latin rhythms can uplift all types of jazz songs, even... Read More

Imagine
Artist: Gonzalo Rubalcaba
Community Score: 9.00

Gonzalo Rubalcaba, a Cuban jazz treasure, is heard on his CD from three separate occasions. Although Howard Mandel's odd liner notes make it sound like most of the music originated from Rubalcaba's 1993 New York concert at Alice Tully Hall (he even refers to a duet Rubalcaba had with singer Dianne Reeves as if it were included on this release),... Read More

Heroes
Artist: Hilton Ruiz

Although often overlooked, pianist Hilton Ruiz has been one of the top Latin jazz bandleaders (at least on record) of the 1980s and '90s. For this spirited affair, Ruiz uses a nonet consisting of up-and-coming tenor saxophonist David Sanchez, trumpeter Charlie Sepulveda, the great trombonist Steve Turre, bassist Andy Gonzalez, drummer Ignacio... Read More

Taboo
Artist: Ray Barretto

Ray Barretto's Taboo features a new, smaller version of his New World Spirit ensemble. Hector Martignon, who composes along with Barretto, is still here, as are Satoshi Takeishi, Ray Vega, and Jairo Moreno. Saxophonist Adam Kolker takes the sax chair vacated by Jay Rodriguez, and guitarist Alfredo Gonzales has not been replaced. The material is... Read More

Singers of the Cibao
Artist: Willie Colón

Two of the biggest influences on Colon were traditional Puerto Rican music and the two-trombone sound created by bandleader Mon Rivera. In this wonderful 1975 attempt to revive Rivera's career, both elements get a full workout. It was one of Colon's warmest albums and was rewarded by almost immediate oblivion. So it's a real joy to see it... Read More

Doble Energia
Artist: Willie Colón

Willie Colón's creative producing talents combined with Miranda of Fania All-Stars' to achieve one of the top salsa albums in 1980. Willie Colón's new, improved late-'70s trombone lineup and overall sound suit Miranda's bombastic style to a tee. The hit is José Nogueras' "No Me Digas Que Es Muy Tarde," and the lush, string accompanied... Read More

Ay Que Rico!
Artist: Benny Velarde

Benny Velarde and Francisco Aquabella were among a number of Latin percussionists, performers, and bandleaders who got a chance to record during the late '50s as Latin music enjoyed a surge in popularity. Both led steady, competent ensembles that made songs solidly in the groove, designed for dancing. Although neither was a great soloist, they... Read More

The Sun of Latin Music - MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS
Artist: Eddie Palmieri

This album almost perfectly combines Palmieri's experimentalism with the devastating swing that kept him ahead on the street. The "Un Dia Bonito" suite got the most attention, but "Una Roza Española," a one-cut mini-history of salsa, is enchanting. ~ John Storm Roberts, All Music Guide Read More

El Malo
Artist: Willie Colón

El Malo was Colon and Hector Lavoe's first-ever recording, made in 1967 when Colon was a mere 17 years old. Every number's a killer: "Jazzy," "Juana Pena," "Borinquen," "El Malo." Plus boogalu! ~ Carl Hoyt, All Music Guide Read More

The Big Break
Artist: Willie Colón
Community Score: 10.00

Colon's third album is the clearest early sign of his individuality, with a Ghanaian children's song, the first of his Panamanian-influenced numbers, and a prophetic venture into Brazilian rhythms. ~ John Storm Roberts, All Music Guide Read More

Mr. Bongo
Artist: Jack Costanzo

Afro Cuban compiles some of Jack Costanzo's best tracks, showcasing Costanzo's powerful bongos and Eddie Cano's piano. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide Read More