Conguero Snowboy (aka Mark Cotgrove) & the Latin Section have been a major item in the English/European Latin jazz scene for the past 15 years, working a thunderous sound that fuses son, mambo, and salsa with Afro-Cuban jazz, much in the manner of the legendary Tito Puente. Para Puente is, indeed, Snowboy’s tribute to Puente. While Snowboy and his crew don’t cover any Puente tunes, they do thoroughly capture the spirit and vitality of Puente’s music, and that’s the whole point. The album is a polyrhythmic juggernaut, coming at the listener with an intense, dance-slammed groove that’s relentless. Check out the sweltering rumba/salsa tune “Los Rumberos de la Habana y Matanzas,” as well as the standout performances of keyboardist Neil Angilley, trumpeter Sid Gauld, and timbalero/vocalist Davide Giovaninni. Para Puente is killer Latin jazz. What better tribute to Puente could one devise?—PVV
