An overlooked gem from Airto – recorded after his 70s years on bigger labels, but a set that almost tops all of them in the end! There's a wonderful mix going on here – a blend of rootsy and electric, and Latin and Brazilian – the former clearly from the placement of the record on New York's Montuno label – an imprint that did plenty of great sessions filled with Latin jazz! The shift makes for a fresh one for Airto – still plenty of room to show off his famous percussion impulses, yet in a slightly different way – often grooving in a Latin fusion mode that's a nice maturation from the CTI years. The set's filled with all-star players – including Jorge Dalto on electric piano, Raul De Souza on trombone, Joe Farrell on flute, Alphonso Johnson on bass, and Oscar Castro Neves on keyboards, guitar, and cavaquinho – and the lovely Flora's also on board to sing a bit on the set. Titles include the extended jammer "Tombo", plus "Aqui Se Pede", "Jump", "The Return", "Sin Salida", and "Anatelio". (Brazil, Latin) LP, Vinyl record album

Produced by T-Bone Burnett. (Rock, Latin) LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty sweet Latin jazz session from Mongo – recorded with the same electric groove as his 70s recordings on Vaya, plus touches of a more classic Latin jazz sound that are very nice! The group's very nice – and there's some excellent reed work by Sam Furnace and Tony Hinson, which gives the record a sharp edge and a off-beat tone that really keeps the tracks interesting. Marty Sheller did some of the arrangements – and titles include "Power Struggle", "Con Hache", "Zimbabwe", "Espiritu Libre", and "Manana Wilson". CD

The group's led by percussionist Nicolas Vivas, and features three trumpets, piano, tres, bass, and more percussion – plus vocals from Willie Gonzalez and Eddie Santiago! Titles include "Detalles", "Tu", "Que Maravilla Fue Sntirte", and "Paso La Vida Pensando". LP, Vinyl record album

Features the long "Mosaico Salsero" – plus "El Palo", "Rosa Angelina", "Los Barcos En La Bahia", "El Martillo", and "El Nativo". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A mid 80s studio set from the Fania All Stars – and proof that the group was still going great at this time – almost reverting to their older modes of the early 70s, and shaking free of the more electric, more soul-based styles that group was using during their time at Columbia Records! The style here is very much in the spirit of the group's roots – long tracks that spin out with plenty of space for all the collaboration that made the Fania All Stars not only unique in Latin music, but a real model of artistic cooperation that other genres could certainly share! The group for this date includes vocals by Ismael Miranda, Celia Cruz, Adalberto Santiago, and Hector Lavoe – and titles include "Por Eso Yo Canto Salsa", "Usando El Coco", "El Rey De La Puntulidad", and "La Tierra No Es Pa La Guerra". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album