Fittingly, Tito Puente's final album (save for a collaboration with Eddie Palmieri) finds the great bandleader-percussionist taking a young audience into the past with an in-concert set of classics including the title trac... more »k, "Ban Ban Quere," and, of course, "Oye Como Va." The energy never wanes as Puente visits his many styles ("Cha Cha Cha Mambo," for one) and tempos. Particularly hot is the percussive breakdown on "Guaguanco Margarito," which is both smashing and subtle in the way of only the very finest jazz. "I'm gettin' to ya!" the ebullient Mambo King exclaims more than once between songs; he sounds as if he were just as pleased as in the midcentury years he spent inventing this music. Mambo Birdland won a 2000 Grammy (for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Performance), Puente's fifth. --Rickey Wright« less
Fittingly, Tito Puente's final album (save for a collaboration with Eddie Palmieri) finds the great bandleader-percussionist taking a young audience into the past with an in-concert set of classics including the title track, "Ban Ban Quere," and, of course, "Oye Como Va." The energy never wanes as Puente visits his many styles ("Cha Cha Cha Mambo," for one) and tempos. Particularly hot is the percussive breakdown on "Guaguanco Margarito," which is both smashing and subtle in the way of only the very finest jazz. "I'm gettin' to ya!" the ebullient Mambo King exclaims more than once between songs; he sounds as if he were just as pleased as in the midcentury years he spent inventing this music. Mambo Birdland won a 2000 Grammy (for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Performance), Puente's fifth. --Rickey Wright
"Songs from his 50's and 60's albums played with his big band and recorded with present technology make for one of the best albums of THE KING. I only miss the voice of the late great vocalist Santitos Colon."
Addicting Latin Jazz by The Legend!
Vasilius Trokis | San Francisco, CA | 08/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am very honored to have met and shaken Tito Puente's hand in 1997 when he came out to Yoshi's Jazz Club here in the Oakland-San Francisco area. Much like his energetic and charmastically flawless performance that evening, "Mambo Birdland" is a definitive live performance by him. Once more, interludes of speech by the Timbale Master is a wonderful addition considering that this is his last album (aside from his "Obra Nuestra" with pianist Eddie Palmieri).Each track is definitely upbeat and pure Latino jazz (Tito was known for loathing the term "salsa" to describe this great genre of music), graced with great vocals by Frankie Morales and a spectacular Latin jazz orchestra. Tito combines many traditional rhythms and beats like the cha-cha ("Cha-Cha-Cha Mambo"), cumbia, mambo, and more. His back-up orchestra is also absolutely incredible, each piece of brass is distinguishing and impeccable in their playing. Overall, this is one fine recording that's a must for anyone's music collection. Most of all, this final recording by Tito Puente is an awesome testimony of how grand a figure he IS to the overall spectrum of music. Yes, Tito will be missed gravely, but like Ella Fitzgerald, Tito Rodriguez and Count Basie, their awesome body of work lives on!"
TITO PUENTE- MAMBO IN BIRDLAND
luis de quesada | jamaica, new york United States | 06/02/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I wish to honor the departed "King of Latin Music", Tito Puente. In this great album, Tito brought us back to the glory days at the Palladium, the Tropicana, etc. It was in his nature to please his fans, so he gave us this gem featuring some of his old hits from the 50's. Like a fan mentioned, the voice of Santitos Colon is about the only thing missing from this great album! Farewell and God Bless You, dear old friend!"
It's the Palladium Day again!
audiboy1@hotmail.com | Long Island, New York | 10/05/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD has all of the old time songs, with that same old sound.It's excellent!"
Tito Puente left us a musical banquet
Roberto A. Fernandez | San Juan, PR USA | 08/05/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is just incredible. It has the quality of a studio album, and the energy and "sabor" of a live performance. Recorded live at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in NYC, it really deserved the Grammy it received. I was very saddened at the news of Puente's passing, but his music will keep him alive for many years to come. The instrumental title track, Mambo Birdland, is just spectacular. Also great are Ban Ban Quere, Donde Está Miguel, Cha Cha Mambo, Mi Mamita, Mambo Gozón, and the last two, Ran Kan Kan and Oye Como Va.We will miss Puente's smile and exuberance, but we don't have to miss his music. Mambo Birdland is definitely a must buy!"