Tito Puente - Salsa Meets Jazz (1988)

01.Corner Pocket

02.Salsa Caliente

03.Consternation

04.Pannonica

05.Carioca

06.Guajira Soul

07.Repetition

08.Carinoso

09.Con Alma.

Tito Puente (vibraphone, marimba, timbales, percussion)

Phil Woods (alto saxophone)

Mario Rivera (tenor saxophone, flute)

Piro Rodriguez, Bill Ortiz (trumpet, flugelhorn)

Joe De Jesus (trombone)

Sonny Bravo (piano)

Rebecca Mauleon (synthesizer)

Bobby Rodriguez (bass)

Johnny Rodriguez (bongos)

Jose Madera (congas)

Frank Figueroa,Jose Alexis Diaz (background vocals).

For this particular Tito Puente recording, his exciting three-horn, three-percussion Latin jazz octet (which includes longtime saxophone soloist Mario Rivera) is joined by alto great Phil Woods on three of the eight selections, including Thelonious Monk's "Pannonica" and "Repetition." Such songs as "Corner Pocket," "Carioca" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma" sound perfectly natural in this Afro-Cuban jazz setting, and Puente (well featured on vibes and timbales) is responsible for two originals and seven of the nine arrangements. The music is danceable, adventurous and quite fun. ~ Scott Yanow

Recorded at Coast Recorders, San Francisco, California in January 1988. Includes liner notes by Hugh Wyatt.

Tito Puente - Mambo King,100th Album (1991)

01.Hay Que Trabajar

02.Envuelvete Conmigo

03.Dejame Sonar

04.Salsumba

05.Celia Y Tito

06.Nuestro Amor

07.El Bribon Del Aguacero

08.Son Con Son

09.Bolero Medley:Tus Ojos/Mirame Mas/Ay Carino

10.El #100.

Tito Puente - Out of This World (1991)

01.Descarga (Tito Puente)

02.In Walked Bud (Thelonious Monk)

03.Sweet Georgia Brown (Ben Bernie-Kenneth Casey-Maceo Pinkard)

04.Amanecer Guajira (Tito Puente)

05.'S Wonderful (George Gershwin-Ira Gershwin)

06.Luck Dog (Tito Puente)

07.Out of This World (Johhny Mercer-Harold Arlen)

08.Along Came Betty (Benny Golson).

09.Latin Percussion Summit (Tito Puente).

Tito Puente - vibes, timbales

Sonny Bravo - piano

Jose Madera - congas, percussion

Mario Rivera - tenor sax., flute, melodica

Bobby Rodriguez - trumpet, flugelhorn

John "Dandy" Rodriguez - bongo's, percussion

Jose "Papo" Rodriguez - chekere, bongos

Charles Sepulveda - trumpet, flugelhorn

Michael Turre - baritone sax., flute

Papo Vazquez - trombone.

Recorded at Coast Recorders, San Francisco, CA; December 1990.

Review
by Scott Yanow

The music on Out of This World is consistently exciting, a very winning blend of bop-oriented jazz and Latin rhythms. Among the key players are trumpeter Charlie Sepulveda, trombonist Papo Vazquez, Mario Rivera on tenor, and no less than four Rodriguezes (bassist Bobby, trumpeter Piro, John on bongos, and Jose on chekere). Among the most memorable performances are Thelonious Monk's "In Walked Bud," a Latinized "'S Wonderful," "Descarga," "Amanecer Guajira," and "Latin Percussion Summit." Highly recommended and probably the most rewarding in Tito Puente's long string of Concord Picante recordings.

Tito Puente And His Orchestra – Mucho Puente (1958)

01.Mambo Beat

02.The Late, Late Scene

03.Night Ritual

04.Malibu Beat

05.Night Hawk

06.Lullaby Of The Leaves

07.Son De La Loma

08.Duerme (Time Was)

09.Tea For Two

10.Poor Butterfly

11.Tito's Guajira.

A nice RCA stormer from Tito, and one that has him hitting a nice jazzy groove on a mix of Latin tunes and standards. Tito plays drums and timbales – and titles include "Ecstasy", "Noche De Ronda", "Tito's Guajira", "Duerme", and "Un Poquito De Tu Amor".

Born in Spanish Harlem to parents from Puerto Rico, Tito Puente would eventually become a legendary musician of Latin-jazz, and dance-oriented mambo compositions. Over his 50 year career Puente released or appeared on a vast catalog of albums (notably Dance Mania in 1958), on television (The Cosby Show and The Simpsons) and in films (The Mambo Kings). His talent and skill allowed him to explore numerous musical styles within Latin-jazz including mambo, son cubano, cha-cha-cha, and bossa nova. He won numerous Grammy awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was given posthumously in 2003. Puente died in 2000, age 77, following complications from a heart attack.

Tito Puente & His Latin Ensemble - Mambo Diablo (1985)

01.Mambo Diablo 4:14

02.Take Five 6:05

03.Lush Life 5:43

04.Pick Yourself Up 5:30

05.Lullaby of Birdland 4:20

06.No Pienses Asi 3:56

07.China 4:57

08.Eastern Joy Dance 5:54.

Sonny Bravo - Piano

Jimmy Frisaura - Flugelhorn, Trombone (Valve), Trumpet

Ray Gonzalez - Flugelhorn, Trumpet

Jose Madera - Conga, Percussion

Tito Puente - Marimba, Percussion,Timbales, Timbalitos, Vibraphone

Mario Rivera - Fiddle, Flute, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)

Johnny Dandy Rodrigues - Bongos, Percussion

Bobby Rodriguez - Bass

John "Dandy" Rodriguez - Bongos, Percussion

Johnny Rodriguez - Bongos, Percussion

George Shearing - Piano.

Review
by Scott Yanow.

Although he was never inactive, the 1980s found Tito Puente in a bit of a renaissance. His exciting Afro-Cuban jazz band had found a home on the Concord Picante label, and his music was increasing in popularity again. This particular CD has a stronger than usual repertoire, including "Take Five," "Lush Life" (done as Latin jazz), "Pick Yourself Up" and "Lullaby of Birdland"; the latter song has its composer George Shearing guesting on piano. Puente wrote half of the arrangements, contributed some excellent playing on timbales and vibes, and is heard heading a spirited three-horn, three-percussion octet. Very enjoyable music.

Tito Puente and his Latin Ensemble - El Rey (1984)

01.Oye Como Va
02.Autumn Leaves
03.Ran Kan Kan
04.Rainfall
05.Giant Steps
06.Linda Chicana
07.Stella By Starlight / Delirio
08.Equinox
09.El Rey Del Timbal.

Tito Puente - Timbales,Vibes and Vocal

Francisco Aguabella - Congas

Jimmy Frisaura - Valve Trombone

Johnny Rodriguez - Bongos,Congas and Vocal

Ray Gonzales - Trumpet and Flugelhorn

Jorge Dalto - Acoustic and Electric Piano

Jose Madera - Congas and Timbales

Mario Rivera - Flute,Soprano and tenor Saxaphone

Bobby Rodriguez - Bass.

Recorded Live at The Great American Music Hall,San Francisco,CA,May 1984.