HutchFan

TTK, I only picked up Puente in Percussion recently, so these are still-evolving impressions. But I would say that Puente in Percussion compares VERY favorably with Top Percussion. I may even prefer the Tico album over the RCA. One aside: The cover on my Tico CD reissue is different than the illustration above. The cover I have is shown below: Note the pneumatic jackhammer resting on the chair. A play for humor, I guess. Steven Loza's book about Puente (below) discusses how Tito kept pestering Tico management to record an all-percussion album. Over and over and over again. They figured the record would be a money loser, but finally they relented -- if only so he'd stop bothering them about it. That's how Puente in Percussion came about -- only because Puente REALLY wanted to make it.

Stanley & Shirley always sound soulful. But, in my opinion, NOTHING they did is MORE soulful than this!

I think you just beat me to the punch! And we say it because it's TRUE. We have a quorum!

Mongo Santamaria y Su Orquesta - ¡Sabroso! (Fantasy/OJC, 1960)

Very much "80s Jazz" -- a bit on the commercial side -- especially compared to what Sco' did previously with Enja and subsequently with BN. But I don't hear it as a selling out; nothing that mercenary. Rather, I think it's an honest attempt to reach a broader audience, back in the day when it was possible for a jazz musician to do that. ... And the music is pretty good, taken on its own terms, even if I like what he did before and after more. "Damning with faint praise"? Yeah. O.K. Maybe.

Definitely could happen that way. Whoever does it, I just hope they do it right. The music deserves excellent AQ, presentation, packaging, notes, and all of that. First class all the way. Of course, if it's PD, none of that will likely happen.

Drew & Dexter were a potent combo. One of my favorite Dexter discs:

I'm in. I'll offer another perspective when it comes to George Cables. I think he's wonderful with Dex. I love the the Keystone recordings with this quartet, and I expect I'll dig this date too. ... By the way, I love Cables with Art Pepper also. ... And in a trio setting. Just my take, of course.

For the second time tonight: Bill O'Connell Latin Jazz Project - Black Sand (Random Chance, 2001) Excellent!

Now spinning Bernard Purdie's entry in the Legends of Acid Jazz series: Listening to Tracks 7-12 on this CD, originally released as Shaft (Prestige 10038) in 1972.

NP:

Helluva record.

Here, here!!! 👍 Alas, I'm afraid those day are GONE.

First listen. New-to-me: Chick was amazing up 'til the end. You'd never know that he was approaching 80 (!) when this recording was made.

The Hawks won! Now, back to music: Poncho Sanchez - El Conguero (Concord Picante, 1985)

Now: NBA Playoffs - Hawks vs. 76ers Earlier: Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Legends of Acid Jazz (Prestige) Compiles 2 of Smith's LPs from 1969

Next up: Paquito D'Rivera / Arturo Sandoval - Reunion (Messidor, 1991)

Giuffre for me too. But I'm spinning this CD: The Jimmy Giuffre 4 - Liquid Dancers (Soul Note, rec. 1989) Earlier this evening: Tito Puente - Puente in Percussion (Tico, 1956) with Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, and Carlos "Patato" Valdés

They've very impressive. Kempff is particularly sensitive and lyrical in the Fourth PC. I'd recommend it. Dipped into this set again earlier this evening: Schubert: Symphonies No. 8 "Unfinished" & No. 9 "The Great" Wonderful.

Brahms' Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4 from this set:

I only have one Donny McCaslin recording, Soar (Sunnyside, 2006). I like it -- but I haven't played it in a long while. NP: Charlie Palmieri - Impulsos (Coco, 1975)