To fully grasp the exuberance that made the late Tito Puente bigger than life and stage, it helped to witness one of his live performances. Paradoxically, on this recording—featuring an all-star Latin band (pianist Hilton Ruiz, percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo, drummer Ignacio Berroa, and trumpeter Charlie Sepulveda, among others)—Puente is less mambo king and more mainstream Latin jazz artist/consummate bandleader. The gem of this recording is surely a guest appearance by seminal conguero Mongo Santamaría (on his own classic “Afro Blue”); Santamaría also partakes in the ensuing percussion jam “Ti-Mon-Gi.” Puente and company are evocative on Freddie Hubbard’s “Little Sunflower” and blistering on Duke Jordan’s fast-clipped “Flight to Jordan.” The disc closes with “Obsesión,” which evolves into an all-out Latin jam. A decisive finale for a recording that highlights yet another facet of Puente’s musicianship.—LC
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