Search - Tito Puente :: Latin Jazz All-Stars Live at the Village Gate

Playing with intensity

Daegan Miller | Middlebury, VT United States | 10/04/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Live at the Village gate is a tremendous album, one that deserves a listen. Once you get it, I suggest quickly skipping to #4, Afro Blue, not because the preceding tracks lack merit, but because Afro Blue is almost perfect. Sun Ra once said somethign like, "Whenever you play, play with intensity." Well, here it is. This track is the definition of intense. Listen to the rhythm section and their polyrhythms, layering 3, 4 and 5 time all over each other. Oye Como Va is a fun track, but once Milestones is heard, watch out. The Latin Jazz All-Stars earn their title with this track. This is a great album, one filled with fire and a cohesion of purpose that is often found to be lacking in many group efforts."

Perfect

The Delite Rancher | Phoenix, Arizona | 07/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tito Puente's Golden Latin Jazz All Stars "Live at the Village Gate" is nothing less than the ultimate Latin Jazz experience. Almost everything is perfect about this album. First, the band is perfect. The musicians live up to the hype of being the Golden Latin Jazz All Stars. Just about everybody who is the greatest at their instrument within the genre is present: Dave Valentin, Mongo Santamaria, Giovanni Hidalgo, Paquito D'Rivera and so the list goes on. Second, the setlist is perfect. 'Afro Blue,' 'Oye Como Va' and 'Milestones' are some of the highlights. Third, the improvisation is unbelievable. In particular, the drumming is other worldly. While Mongo, Giovanni, Ignacio and Tito rip it up on 'Skin Jam,' the jaw-dropping percussion is threaded throughout the recording. As expressive and abstract as the improvisation is, the group is just as tight. The transitions are always clean and the Golden Latin Jazz All Stars can start and stop on a dime. Fourth, the energy is through the roof. This recording truly captures the enthusiasm between a great band and an appreciative audience. A recording with this energy could not have been possible in the studio. For proof of this, listen to the mediocre results of the corresponding studio album, "In Session." This is the gem of any Latin Jazz collection. So what's not perfect about this CD? The price; it seems that this jewel is currently out-of-print and going for exorbitant prices through Amazon's marketplace sellers. If you can afford it, this the ultimate live journey into Latin Jazz."