TITO PUENTE & MAYNARD FERGUSON: Special delivery

TITO PUENTE
Mais um TORPEDO do grande Tito Puente, desta vez com o auxilio luxuoso do grande MAYNARD FERGUSON.
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ALBUM REVIEW
Tito Puente, the godfather of Latin jazz, celebrated 50 years in music with this sizzling CD. "Be-Bop" is launched with a duel between trumpeters Bobby Shew and Maynard Ferguson. Underrated alto saxophonist Bobby Porcelli and tenorman Mario Rivera make this version of "Stablemates" a keeper. The rarely heard "Venus De Milo" is revived with a warm tribute to composer Gerry Mulligan by baritone saxophonist Mitch Forman. Special Delivery is big-band Latin jazz at its best.
~ Ken Dryden
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"...a set of driving big band arrangements, abetted by guest trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. The tunes are bop standards with powerful percussion. Ferguson's aggressive, high-flying attack makes him perfect for a Puente production..."
~ JazzTimes (3/97, p.103)
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MY OPINION:
This is an album with everything a jazz lover could desire: astounding arrangements and virtuous solos by Maynard Ferguson, Hilton Ruiz and other masters, at their very best here. There ares some gems such as "Bebop", "Stablemates" and "Barbara", along with standards ("On Green Dolphin Street" and "Autumn in Rome"). This is, actually, a MUST LISTEN TO!
(CB)
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MINHA OPINIÃO: que "timaço" de craques - um verdadeiro "dream team", como o mestre TP sempre soube reunir. Arranjos excelentes, temas instigantes, solos arrojados, percussão em alta temperatura. O andamento em 12/8 da percussão em BARBARA, obra-prima de Horace Silver, traz a marca do "maestro-soberano-do-latin-jazz". A presença do grande MAYNARD FERGUSON e de alguns temas clássicos da fase "birth of the cool", (passagem do bebop para o cool jazz) - "Bebop", "Stablemates", "Venus de Milo", nos remete a grupos como os do próprio MF, Shorty Rogers e até mesmo a alguns ataques de metais da banda de Stan Kenton. Este é, sem dúvida, um dos melhores álbuns da discografia de TITO PUENTE: OURO EM PÓ!

TITO PUENTE: Special delivery

PERSONNEL:
Tito Puente (vibraphone, marimba, timbales)
Mario Rivera (flute, piccolo, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone)
Bobby Porcelli (alto saxophone)
Don Menza (tenor saxophone)
Mitch Frohman (baritone saxophone)
Maynard Ferguson, Ray Vega (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Michael Mossman (trumpet, trombone)
John Walsh, Wayne Bergeron, Bobby Shew (trumpet)
Tom Garling, Lewis Kahn (trombone)
Hilton Ruiz, Sonny Bravo (piano)
Louis Bauzo, John Rodriguez, Jose Madera, Jimmy Delgado (percussion).

Arrangers: Hilton Ruiz; Marty Sheller; Tito Puente; Tom Garling; Michael Mossman; Jose Madera; Sonny Bravo; Mitch Frohman.

TRACKS/FAIXAS:
1. Be-Bop
2. Misterioso
3. Point East Memories
4. Stablemates
5. On Green Dolphin Street
6. Autumn in Rome
7. Venus de Milo
8. Tito's Colada
9. Barbara
10. Where You At?
11. Flying Home