Tito Puente 320

Ernesto Antonio "Tito" Puente was an American musician, songwriter and record producer. The son of Ernest and Ercilia Puente, native Puerto Ricans living in New York City's Spanish Harlem, Puente is often credited as "The Musical Pope", "El Rey de los Timbales" (The King of the Timbales) and "The King of Latin Music". He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz compositions that endured over a 50-year career. He and his music appear in many films such as The Mambo Kings and Fernando Trueba's Calle 54. He guest-starred on several television shows, including Sesame Street and The Simpsons two-part episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns?". His most famous song is "Oye Como Va".

Although reeds, brass, and even guitars are tossed in here and there to help create what the liner notes describe as "an exotic picture of tropical wildlife," the main focus is on percussion and some of the best tracks are the ones where the other orchestra members probably stepped out for a cup of Joe. One hesitates at the thought of pumping further caffeine into the timbale-pummelling Puente or his cohorts on congas, guiros, bongos, and assorted other percussion. Listeners who think a computer is necessary to play as fast as the beats would get in 90's jungle music had better check this man's hands out. Highlight track is, hands down, the unforgettable "Witchdoctor's Nightmare," a great way to start off the sounds at any party.