The veteran timbalero Manny Oquendo and his group Libre have been doing that since 1974. Just as Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers spawned the future stars Wynton and Branford Marsalis and Terence Blanchard, the best and brightest Latin musicians have come from Oquendo's Libre--including conguero and trumpeter
Jerry Gonzalez and his bass-playing brother, Andy. This edition of Libre features Andy Gonzalez on bass, trombonists Papo Vazquez and Jimmy Bosch, and pianist Willie Rodriguez. Oquendo and company swing on the salsa jams "Oquendo y Libre" and "Muevete un Poco," (the former featuring rapper El Cacique) and offer a kicking treatment of the Count Basie favorite, "Lester Leaps In." The husky contralto of Cuba's Xiomara Lugart colors the ballroom bolero "Quiereme y Veras," enhanced by Joe Locke's orchestral synthesizer and vibraphone fills. The guaracha-rumba "No Cuentas" and the mambo-son "Chiquilla Ideal" exemplify the call-and-response and montuno traditions that cement Latin music's thrilling range. --Eugene Holley Jr.
Jerry Gonzalez and his bass-playing brother, Andy. This edition of Libre features Andy Gonzalez on bass, trombonists Papo Vazquez and Jimmy Bosch, and pianist Willie Rodriguez. Oquendo and company swing on the salsa jams "Oquendo y Libre" and "Muevete un Poco," (the former featuring rapper El Cacique) and offer a kicking treatment of the Count Basie favorite, "Lester Leaps In." The husky contralto of Cuba's Xiomara Lugart colors the ballroom bolero "Quiereme y Veras," enhanced by Joe Locke's orchestral synthesizer and vibraphone fills. The guaracha-rumba "No Cuentas" and the mambo-son "Chiquilla Ideal" exemplify the call-and-response and montuno traditions that cement Latin music's thrilling range. --Eugene Holley Jr.
