Bob Mintzer - Latin From Manhattan (1998)

01.Oye Como Va
02.Al Caborojeno
03.Acha
04.Ellis Island
05.Carla
06.New Rochelle
07.Chant
08.San Juan Shuffle
09.New Mambo
10.Mambone.

Jazz Times

Bob Mintzer has a wonderful sense of a big band as a living, breathing entity. He knows how to make it feel good, how to arouse, to tickle, and when to let it go. All of this and more comes through in this set focused on the leader's gleanings from 25 years of working in and around the Latin music scene in New York. Plenty picante, no heartburn: a highly satisfying musical meal.

For this recording by Bob Mintzer's big band, the tenor saxophonist and his 17-piece ensemble perform ten numbers with an Afro-Cuban beat provided by percussionist Louis Bauzo. Although Mintzer's group does not really have its own distinctive musical personality, it is full of talented players. Best-known among the sidemen are tenor saxophonist Bob Malach, altoist Pete Yellin, trumpeter Mike Mossman, trombonist Dave Taylor and pianist Phil Markowitz. Mintzer and Markowitz have the best spots and although Mossman unfortunately does not get any solos, many of the lesser-known horn players are heard from. Other than "Oye Como Va" (which is given a fresh new arrangement) most of the pieces were newly-written. Overall this Afro-Cuban flavored effort serves as a strong change of pace for Mintzer's orchestra. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.

Larry Lunetta - Trumpet
Keith O'Quinn - Trombone
John Riley - Drums
Roger Rosenberg - Saxophone
Scott Wendholt - Trumpet
Louis Bauzo - Percussion
Jay Anderson - Bass
Michael Mossman - Trumpet
Pete Yellin - Saxophone
David Taylor - Trombone
Sam Burtis - Trombone
Larry Farrell - Trombone
Lawrence Feldman - Saxophone
Bob Malach - Saxophone
Phil Markowitz - Piano
Bob Mintzer - Saxophone.