(Latin Jazz, Salsa) Larry Harlow's Latin Jazz Encounter - Live at Birdland - 2003, MP3, 320 kbps

What a group! Beginning with the legendary pianist, the original Fania All Star, Larry Harlow on keyboards, the dynamic Bobby Sanabria on drums, the best bass player in the world, Eddie "Guagua" Rivera, the incredibly talented Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax and flute, the amazing Mac Gollehon on trumpet, and the phenomenal Chembo Corniel on congas and percussion ...this group kicks it into high gear! They all get to strut their stuff with the first number, Rumbambola.
Then they take off with a sultry version of Willie Bobo's Fried Neckbones. Now my 13 year old son doesn't know much about Latin Jazz, but this number had him singing along with the chorus and smiling from ear to ear. What a fun song, and what a trumpet solo...wow! The audience can be heard participating in the background, and Larry brings it all together with his inspired piano rifts.
Larry contributes more jammin' piano in the Philadelphia Mambo, dedicated to his friend and mentor, Tito Puente.
But the great piano intro in Autumn Leaves flows into a baritone sax solo that makes you want to turn the lights down low, light a candle and slip into something more comfortable.
Then comes Pancho Piloncho, a Larry Harlow original tune that was first recorded on an album he did for Nippon Fonogram records in 1975 called Belmonte y su Sexteto (he was signed to Fania back then so couldn't do it under his own name!). This tune is where Larry really shows off his piano skills. But since this is Latin Jazz, and like Larry says, "You can do anything you want to", along comes Mac Gollehon with his trumpet, accompanied by Ronnie Cuber with his charanga style flute and the song really takes off!
The highlight of this album is a new interpretation of the Larry Harlow classic, La Cartera (written by Arsenio Rodríguez) with Bomba rhythms! You have to hear it to believe it!
For those of you who love Latin Jazz, buying this album is a no-brainer. For those of you who aren't so sure you like Latin Jazz, this album will convince you that you do! And for those of you who have never listened to Latin Jazz, this is a great introduction!
Highly recommended!