Gustavo Puente Ojea

By virtue of his warm, flamboyant stage manner, longevity, constant touring, and appearances in the mass media, Tito Puente is probably the most beloved symbol of Latin jazz. But more than that, Puente managed to keep his music remarkably fresh over the decades; as a timbales virtuoso, he combined mastery over every rhythmic nuance with old-fashioned showmanship watching his eyes bug out when taking a dynamic solo was one of the great treats for Latin jazz fans.

Tito Puente - Night Beat / Mucho Puente, Plus (1957) {RCA-Bear Family BCD 15686 rel 1993}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 445 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 175 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 23 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1957, 1964, 1993 RCA Victor / Bear Family Records | BCD 15686
Jazz / International Jazz / Latin Jazz/ Cuban Traditions / Mambo / Afro-Cuban Jazz

In 1993, Bear Family released Night Beat/Mucho Puente, Plus, which contained two complete albums – Night Beat (1957) and Mucho Puente (1964), both originally released on RCA – by Latin jazz giant Tito Puente on one compact disc.

Summarizing Tito Puente's numerous accomplishments on a single CD would be impossible. El Rey del Timbal!, a 1997 disc spanning 1949-1987, barely scratches the surface - but for Puente, a five-CD box set would also only scratch the surface. But this gem-laden collection does illustrate just how remarkably consistent the salsa legend was during the course of 38 years. El Rey del Timbal! kicks into high gear with 1949's "Ran-Kan-Kan" before treating listeners to such essential 1950s recordings as "Cao-Cao Mani Picao," "Cual Es Tu Idea," "Agua Limpia Todo," and "Oye Mi Guaguanco." Live versions of "Separala Tambien" and "A Gozar Timbero" from 1960 are superb, as is 1961's exuberant "T.P. on the Strip." Though salsa dominates the disc, Puente's Latin jazz output for Concord Picante in the 1980s is well represented by "El Rey del Timbal" and "Machito Forever"…

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). This is a recording with excellent sound. It's a must-have album for Tito Puente fan.