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Latin Beats: A Tribute to Tito Puente

Various Artists
1 disc

1. Hotel Alyssa-Soussie, Tunisia - Sabu Martinez
2. Tito's Odyssey - Tito Puente
3. Om Mani Padme Hum - Sahib Shihab
4. Rompe Cocorico - Juan Pablo Torres
5. Nervous Track - Nuyorican Soul (Yellow Mix)
6. Llegada - Los Van Van
7. Watu Wasuri - Tito Puente
8. Land of Love - Louie Ramirez
9. Coccinando - Ray Barretto
10. Jive Samba - Gerry Woo/Jack Costanzo
11. Llegu Llegu/Guararey de Pastoria - Los Van Van
12. Black Brother - Tito Puente
13. Hit the Bongo - Tito Puente
14. Tighten Up - Al Escobar
15. Soul Drummers - Ray Barretto
16. 110th St. and 5th Ave. - Tito Puente
17. Oye Como Va - Tito Puente (Bongo Mix)
18. Babarabatiri - Beny Mor
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Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 17
Credits

Producer
Engineer
Latin Beats: A Tribute to Tito Puente is an excellent collection of tracks inspired by the late Tito Puente, but original plans to launch the album in September 2000 were sadly changed due to Puente's passing earlier that summer. However, Latin Beats captures the musical vibrancy left behind by "King of the Mambo/El Rey" Puente and the various musicians who were affected by his tantalizing playing style and specific compositions. Mr. Bongo, the U.K.-based Latin/Brazilian label, makes a delightful dedication with 18 sizzling tracks, full of salsa-tinged percussion. Sabu Martinez' "Hotel Alyssa Soussie" is a fiery album opener and a definitive trendsetter, with its thunderous cymbals and intoxicating drumbeats setting the tone. Cuban horns are vivacious on Juan Pablo Torres' "Rompe Cocorico," and the modern stylings of Beny More's "Babarabatiri" are appropriately touching, but it's Puente's own "Tito's Odyssey" and "Hit the Bongo" that tie everything together. So to make it memorable, Mr. Bongo did a splendid job without the frilly common songs and major mainstream chart-toppers. Latin Beats is a decent package, well-suited for all age groups so that any listener can absorb the perfection of Tito Puente. ~ MacKenzie Wilson
Critic Reviews

Q (12/00, p.138) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...A dancefloor-oriented affair, featuring 6 tracks by Tito Puente himself, plus DJ faves including tumultuous Afro-jazz and Latinate rare grooves..."