Tito Puente • El Rey Bravo Tico Records/Craft Latino CR00648
From the first notes of the first bar of the first tune, “Malanga Con Yuca,” the musical die is cast, as the assembled band of musicians let loose with all they’ve got. You’ve got to be fast on your feet to keep up with the beat on this one. An outrageous violin solo and equally ripe trombone solo are highlights as the tune, aided by a trio of trumpets, builds to a climax. Next, the familiar percussive rhythms and brass of “Oye Cómo Va,” which Carlos Santana made a household phrase, introduce the iconic theme as it flows from Johnny Pacheco’s flute against shout-outs from the trumpets and trombone. The vocals take over against flourishes from the flute as the tune continues its infectious beat amid punctuations from the percussion, brass and more flute. This song is a highlight of the album, as it presents this blockbuster in an ultra-relaxed groove. “Tokyo de Noche” seems to me to be Puente’s homage to any of a number of 1940s big bands. Along with the insistent percussion, it features some nice ensemble work as well as tasty flute work. Felix “Pupi” Legarreta’s dramatic violin solo adds to the excitement. “Tombola” serves up Puente’s brand of dance music in ballroom finery. As I listened, I felt like I was front and center at a table in a swank hotel ballroom, a dry martini within arm's reach. After the opening percussion tapers off, the trumpets, trombone and saxes take over in a mild, tuneful swinger showcasing Puente’s vibraphone. A spirited piano opens “Traigo El Coco Seco” and is soon followed by a call-and-response from trumpets and trombone before the vocals take over. The side’s closer, “Africa Habla,” opens with a frenzy of vocals, percussion, violin (!), flute, growling trombone and screaming trumpets. The relentless riff continues until it fades out beneath a dialogue between the violin and flute. Side two continues the celebratory, joyful, dance rhythms heard on the first side. “Batacumba,” first up, reprises a more traditional dance feel and features a wild trombone solo by Barry Rogers. “La Pase Gozando” follows the exuberance of “Batacumba” with a slow, lazy rhythm introduced by Gilberto López’s piano. After the ensemble speaks, a piano-and-flute duo takes over, punctuated with sharp trumpets. The vocals enter, followed by more ensemble work, followed by more vocals accompanied by a flute obbligato. A dramatic ending concludes the tune. “Tito Suena El Timbal” is a fast-paced workout for percussion and vocals. It also showcases Puente’s timbales chops amid vocal chants and sharp accents from the trumpets. After a final volley from the timbales, it all ends quite abruptly -- on one note. “Donde Vas” is a loping vocal number featuring some nice flute work and an energetic muted-trumpet solo. The song fades out amidst a persistent saxophone riff. “Gato, Miau, Miau” is a novelty number with a feline theme. Among its many delights is an intriguing violin solo by Félix “Pupi” Legarreta. Throughout his career, Tito Puente stuck to a winning
formula in his music: take catchy tunes, apply pulsing percussion along with driving brass
and saxes, add energetic vocals, repeat. I found El Rey Bravo a welcome change of
pace from my usual playlists. The recording captures the spirit and sound of Puente’s
band in admirable fidelity. Unexpectedly, I noticed on “Oye Cómo Va” a form of
distortion audible in the brass as a fluttering sound that I cannot explain. I suspect it
exists on the tape with which Kevin Gray did his work. Given that Tico Records was a
division of Roulette Records -- a label not known for quality sound -- this is not
surprising. The cover and record labels faithfully re-create the originals. In addition to
the standard black vinyl edition, an orange-colored version is available in a limited
edition of 500. No matter the color of the vinyl, you'll want to buckle up after you drop
the needle. |
an there ever be
too much of a good thing? Not if it’s the music of mambo king Tito Puente. Venerable
reissue label Craft Latino has released a 60th-anniversary edition of Puente's 1962 classic
El Rey Bravo, 