Tumbao

Vibraphonist Cal Tjader is heard leading five different groups throughout this set, but the identities of the flutists, bassists, and pianists are less important than knowing that Tjader, Willie Bobo (on drums and timbales), and the great conga player Mongo Santamaria are on every selection. The music really cooks, with torrid percussion, inspired ensembles, and occasional solos from the sidemen (which sometimes include pianists Lonnie Hewitt or Vince Guaraldi, bassist Al McKibbon, and flutist Paul Horn). Highlights include Latinized versions of "Key Largo" and "September Song," "Night in Tunisia," "The Continental," and a definitive version of Santamaria's "Afro Blue." This is Latin jazz at its finest.

One of the things that hardcore jazz collectors love to do is fantasize about all of the live recordings by major artists that have gone unreleased but may surface eventually - performances that were taped and ended up in the private collection of an artist, promoter, club owner, manager, or soundboard person. Collectors are always hoping that a previously unreleased soundboard recording of a John Coltrane, Bud Powell, or Thelonious Monk gig will turn up somewhere, and in some cases, recordings that have gone unreleased for decades will see the light of day at some point. Take Concerts in the Sun, for example. This 2002 disc contains previously unreleased Cal Tjader performances from 1960 - live recordings that stayed in the can for 42 years…

No matter where you look this year – at least in the realm of Latin-Jazz – you are unlikely to find a recording where the bass is played with greater melodic beauty than here on Bajo Mundo by the Puerto Rican musician Oskar Cartaya. It is also true that no attempt has been made to ‘lose’ the rhythmic role of the instrument – whether in its electric fretted or fretless incarnation, or as the more traditional contrabass. If anything Oskar Cartaya makes it a point to emphasise this rhythmic character. However, Mr Cartaya simply leans naturally towards melodicism and because he is so gifted his ability to present the bass as both a melodic and harmonic instrument as well is simply sublime, and, it becomes necessary to stress, that too in the kind of company he keeps on this recording.

Pianist Rodriguez serves up a panoramic view of Afro-Cuban music on this dizzyingly varied release. He uses different-sized lineups, but his literate, complementary piano playing is in the midst of it all. Some of the more prominent sidemen include trumpeter Jesus Alemany, saxophonist/percussionist Yosvany Terry, percussionists Tata Guines and Monguito, bassist Carlos Del Puerto, Jr., and, on loan from Orquesta Aragon, flautist Eduardo Rubio and violinists Dagoberto and Lazarito Gonzalez. Rodriguez contributes some writing and arranging. The album's most jazz-oriented number, "Tumbao a Peruchin," is an all-out descarga/jam composed by Rodriguez and featuring Peruchin Jr. on guitar. "Tumba, Mi Tumba," also composed by Rodriguez, is a Haitian francesa arranged and directed by Leonardo Alexander; dancing drums and Enrique Navarro's flute keep the pianist jumping on this number.

After recording his very first album in English, R&B star Prince Royce will return to his Latin roots with his fifth studio album, appropriately titled "FIVE". The album is slated to be released on February 24th, 2017 by Sony Music Entertainment, and features guest appearances from Shakira, Zendaya, Chris Brown and more.