Customer Reviews

Mambo Birdland

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Songs from his 50's and 60's albums played with his big band and recorded with present technology make for one of the best albums of THE KING. I only miss the voice of the late great vocalist Santitos Colon.

I am very honored to have met and shaken Tito Puente's hand in 1997 when he came out to Yoshi's Jazz Club here in the Oakland-San Francisco area. Much like his energetic and charmastically flawless performance that evening, "Mambo Birdland" is a definitive live performance by him. Once more, interludes of speech by the Timbale Master is a wonderful addition considering that this is his last album (aside from his "Obra Nuestra" with pianist Eddie Palmieri).

Each track is definitely upbeat and pure Latino jazz (Tito was known for loathing the term "salsa" to describe this great genre of music), graced with great vocals by Frankie Morales and a spectacular Latin jazz orchestra. Tito combines many traditional rhythms and beats like the cha-cha ("Cha-Cha-Cha Mambo"), cumbia, mambo, and more. His back-up orchestra is also absolutely incredible, each piece of brass is distinguishing and impeccable in their playing. Overall, this is one fine recording that's a must for anyone's music collection. Most of all, this final recording by Tito Puente is an awesome testimony of how grand a figure he IS to the overall spectrum of music.

Yes, Tito will be missed gravely, but like Ella Fitzgerald, Tito Rodriguez and Count Basie, their awesome body of work lives on!

I wish to honor the departed "King of Latin Music", Tito Puente. In this great album, Tito brought us back to the glory days at the Palladium, the Tropicana, etc. It was in his nature to please his fans, so he gave us this gem featuring some of his old hits from the 50's. Like a fan mentioned, the voice of Santitos Colon is about the only thing missing from this great album! Farewell and God Bless You, dear old friend!

This CD has all of the old time songs, with that same old sound.It's excellent!

This album is just incredible. It has the quality of a studio album, and the energy and "sabor" of a live performance. Recorded live at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in NYC, it really deserved the Grammy it received. I was very saddened at the news of Puente's passing, but his music will keep him alive for many years to come. The instrumental title track, Mambo Birdland, is just spectacular. Also great are Ban Ban Quere, Donde Está Miguel, Cha Cha Mambo, Mi Mamita, Mambo Gozón, and the last two, Ran Kan Kan and Oye Como Va.

We will miss Puente's smile and exuberance, but we don't have to miss his music. Mambo Birdland is definitely a must buy!

If you've recently discovered salsa dancing and your spine now tingles whenever you read the words "salsa" or "mambo" then this review (and album) is for you. Mambo Birdland is especially enjoyable for the newcomer to latin dance music because of the little bits of history and explanation that Tito Puente gives between tracks. Forgive me for saying this but the title track "Mambo Birdland" seems a little artificial and somewhat uninspired but all of this is forgotten when the next song comes on..."Juventud Del Presente" will make you melt. You will be transported back in time to the age of your grandparents when life was simple and innocent, the dance halls clean and classy, and popular dance had some style. You will find yourself in the place of your youth where you met your first love and finally found the courage to ask for a dance. Where, with that special person in your arms and the great music playing in the background, you tasted heaven...okay, I'm starting to lose myself here...the next track, "Ban Ban Quere", is an equally impressive tune and super-fun to dance to. It gives you so much energy to work with on the dance floor. You won't be able to stop yourself from moving. Other honourable mentions go to "Oye Mi Guaguanco" which contains some entrancing vocals, incredible trumpet solo improvisation, all while retaining supreme danceability. The classic tune "Ran Kan Kan" has a very new arrangement. Gone is the great xylophone play of older versions but the new one will grow on you with time and you'll learn to love it. The above-mentioned tracks alone are worth the price of admission. This album oozes with dance energy. Listen to it and you will love it. Dance to it and you will appreciate its magnificence!

I have worn out, if possible, two cd's. I am an avid lover of latin music, danced many a year at the Palladium listening to the likes of Tito. Was so happy for the CD. All of it is superb. Ran can can, oh my goodness. Dance until you have cramps or as Tito puts it, "have an ambulance for me after this one. He will always be the MAMBO KING. His mucical timing, you can't get any better. EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!

It's no mystery why this won a grammy when it was released. It's absolutely stunning. Tito Puente never really failed to please, even when he was experimenting with his sound during the halcyon days of 110 st in Spanish Harlem - when much salsa and latin jazz took on a decidedly psychedlic feel a la the Lebron Brothers and much of what Fania/Allegre was putting out. Even though Tito looked down on much of that Boogaloo vibe, he dipped his hands into it a time or two as well. Even then, he struck gold.

So, with this, one of his final releases (outside of the equally amazing release with El Sol Eddie Palmieri), we get no change from what he normally gives us - absolute gold. It is pleasing from start to finish, with some of the finest musicians and soneros in the business lending their talents as well. What a night it must have been to be at Birdland, and it brings back memories for me when I caught Tito Puente live in San Francisco, as well as seeing him live in Puerto Rico. It made me wish I could have been there for this recording. Dancing with my lovely esposa cubana and sharing the magic that came from that stage.

You simply cannot think about this cd any longer if you do not already have it. Get it now, and then cherish it forever. You will be very, very glad you did.

I am something of a neophyte to Latin music, and I'm glad I started with this record. The enthusiastic playing and intricate rhythms make it almost impossible to remain in one's chair while listening. One is inspired to get up and move. The ensemble playing is outstanding and the energy is palpable and infectious. This group gets into a groove and never gets out.

Some of the ensemble singing is a bit out of tune. The men's ensemble voices in particular tend to be a touch flat. But the rhythm's the thing here, and it's rock solid. All of the instrumental performances are very polished.

The tunes on this album are heavily folk-influenced (and for all I know they may all be folk songs). It gives one a sense of the history behind the later incarnations of latin jazz. If you buy this CD expecting contemporary Latin jazz, you are in for a surprise. But you won't be disappointed.

I would recommend this CD to anyone who appreciates jazz or Latin folk music. I especially recommend it to those who like to dance!