As the first three volumes of this series are already enjoying a warm reception, I am hoping that this final installment will be just as successful. I like to think of this volume as the beginning of Tito Puente's chorus and instrumental years. Puente did not have a lead singer from 1954 to 1957. Vocal duties were shared by Willie Bobo and himself. This particular time in Latin music is known to a wider audience as the mambo, cha cha cha or Palladium era.

Tito's creative juices were flowing when he made the music on this disc. I believe that nobody has been able to match Tito Puente in the landscape of Latin music.

Listening to all four volumes of this series, you can't help but wonder about a musician who records 156 songs within the span of a few years - 42 of which are self-penned. Throughout his remarkably prolific career, Puente released over 138 albums, and composed over 600 tunes.

Puente performed for a record number of four different presidents of the United States: Carter, Clinton, Reagan, and Bush Sr. He is also the only Latin musician in this country who had a post office named after him. A
permanent memorabilia exhibit in his name can be visited at Hostos Community College in the Bronx.

The first disc on this set begins with "Mambo Típico," a smooth mambo written by Tito and Gilberto Valdés. Check out Tito's superb performance on vibes.

“Mambo Rumbón” is a smoking track with Mongo Santamaría and Willie Bobo kicking ass on congas and bongo. “Almendra" is a new version of the Cuban classic made famous by the venerable Orquesta Aragón. Puente revisits this tune in cha cha cha style.

"Mambolino” is a personal favorite of mine - a mambo dancer's delight, with Tito on vibes trading licks with his orchestra. Next up is the gorgeous "Suavecito Cha Cha," a track the finds Tito combining the rhythms of mambo and cha cha cha. He does exactly the same on the self-penned "Mambo Con Cha Cha."

The timeless Marcelino Guerra tune "Pare Cochero" is performed here as a slow mambo. "Co Co My My” is a killer track, with Mongo and Tito trading licks on congas and timbales. The same tune was covered years later by bandleader Larry Harlow - but his version does not compare to Puente's. "Keep In Tempo" is a composition by Enrique Jorrín, creator of the cha cha cha.

"Tito's Merengue" is a real treat for Puente fans. Why? Because it is the only merengue that he ever composed - and one of the few that he recorded. On Luis Kaloff's "The Fence," you can hear Mongo playing the tambora with the skill of a master percussionist.

Two classic tunes bring this first disc to a rousing conclusion: "The Knockout," popularized by Orquesta Aragón, and "Hot Tamales (Los Tamalitos de Olga)," made famous by the inimitable José Fajardo.

The second disc begins with a sizzling Latin jazz original - "Tee Pee Mambo." "T.J. Mambo" is another big band number boasting Puente's distinct flavor in its arrangement. "Prelude To Rhythm" was written by the great Julio Gutiérrez - the man who composed the huge Tito Rodríguez hit "Inolvidable."

El Gran Fellove's "Mango Mangue" is a swinging mambo that was also covered in Latin jazz style by Machito, together with seminal jazzman Charlie Parker.

The classic cha cha cha "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” opens with saxophone instead of the customary trumpet line. I am guessing that Tito himself could be playing the sax here - in any case, the arrangement boasts his artistic signature.

"All Of You" is a silky bolero with Tito on vibes. "Coco Seco" is a particularly swinging take on the tune recorded by the La Playa Sextet. A cute tune about Martians landing on Earth and falling under the spell of the cha cha cha, "Los Marcianos" became very popular during the mambo heyday.

"Todos Bailan El Cha Cha" tells about the whole world dancing to the ever popular cha cha beat. Check out Tito's unique sonic treatment on "Invitation" - a tune recorded by notable American bandleader Cal Tjader. It is done here in sumptuous big band style. "Tarde Cha Cha" brings this series to a close.

As a final comment, I would like to say that I had a blast putting these four sets of Tito Puente 78's together. Through them, music fans will hopefully understand why the man was rightfully crowned as "The King of Latin music."



Featuring
Mongo Santamaría
Charlie Palmieri
Willie Bobo




Compiled, Sequenced and Produced By Joe Conzo

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