Critic's Review
Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
Concord Jazz did a smashing job on Hot Hands of reissuing two stellar yet under-the-radar Latin jazz albums by Ray Barretto's New World Spirit ensemble of the 1990s. Hot Hands consists of Ancestral Messages, first released in 1993, and Taboo, which was issued the following year. The connection between the two albums goes deeper than chronology. The former is a look back over Barretto's many influences in both Afro-Cuban music, and the latter is a new articulation of those influences, resulting in what the percussionist himself calls his "most organic album." Musically these are the first two released by the New World Spirit band, which seeded in equal parts the salsa and tough post-bop jazzing that Barretto favors. Both albums are loaded with chops, innovative charts, and deft, even astonishing soloing in places. Ray Vega, the great trumpet player, is present on both recordings as are Hector Martignon on piano and drummer Satoshi Takeishi. The price is right and the sound is warm and lovely. Highly recommended for Latin jazz fans.
