Latin Soul

by Poncho Sanchez

Overview

Recorded live at two leading California nightspots, Yoshi's in Oakland and the Latin-specializing Conga Room in Los Angeles (the actual sound in the Conga Room is never as good as that on this CD), Concord no doubt hoped for an exceptionally hot live session from this tireless defender of the Latin jazz tradition. What they got was merely a decent album, listenable, danceable, yet lacking that extra flash of Latin fire. Sanchez leads his usual eight-piece ensemble -- augmented at Yoshi's by Mike Whitman on baritone sax -- and feeds the percussive polyrhythmic battles with his congas (as well as a turn on the timbales on "Guaripumpe"). On the "Latin soul" agenda, there is a dead-on faithful rendition of "Watermelon Man," with a few histrionic things at the close, and a reprise of Eddie Harris' "Cold Duck Time," which soon turns into "Listen Here" and "Everything I Play Gonh Be Funky." There are also some spirited passings of the bop baton from trumpeter Sal Cracchiolo to trombonist Francisco Torres to tenor saxophonist Scott Martin and back again on "Ican." It's OK, but not Sanchez' best. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Product Details

Release Date:	10/26/1999
Label:	Concord Jazz
UPC:	0013431486329

Tracks

1. El Conguero
2. Ven Pa Bailar
3. Ican
4. Watermelon Man
5. Conga Blue
6. Lisa
7. Besame Mama
8. Guaripumpe
9. Medley
10. Mama Guela

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Poncho Sanchez   Primary Artist,Congas,Vocals,Soloist,Timbales,Percussion
David Torres   Piano
Scott Martin   Flute,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Tony Banda   Bass,Vocals,Chekere
Sal Cracchiolo   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Mike Whitman   Sax (Baritone)
Francisco Torres   Trombone
Ramon Banda   Chekere,Timbales

Technical Credits

Mongo Santamaria   Composer
Burt Bacharach   Composer
Glen Barros   Executive Producer
David Torres   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Producer
Greg Allen   Design,Photography,Art Direction
John Burk   Mixing,Producer
Ron Davis   Mixing,Mastering,Mixing Engineer
Ronnie Rivera   Mixing Assistant
Nick Phillips   Associate Producer
Willie Bobo   Composer
Big Mama Thornton   Composer
Kenny Goldberg   Composer
Billy May   Liner Notes
Phil Edwards   Remote Recording Engineer
Poncho Sanchez   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Producer
Tito Rodriguez   Composer
Herbie Hancock   Composer
Jim Cassell   Associate Producer
David Millar   Production Coordination
Edward James Olmos   Liner Notes
George Balmaseda   Composer
Alexis Davis   Product Development
Traditional   Composer
Billy Mure   Composer
Eddie Cano   Composer
Eddie Harris   Composer