Special Delivery

Performer: Tito Puente
Artist: Ray Vega; Bobby Shew; Don Menza; Michael Philip Mossman; Mario Rivera; Hilton Ruiz
Producer: John Burk; Tito Puente
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel includes: Tito Puente (conductor, arranger, vibraphone, percussion, timbales); Maynard Ferguson (trumpet, flugelhorn); Mario Rivera (tenor & soprano saxophones, flute, piccolo); Don Menza (tenor saxophone); Ray Vega, Bobby Shew (trumpet); Michael Philip Mossman (trumpet, trombone); Hilton Ruiz (piano); Ruben Rodriguez (bass). Engineers: Paul Wickliffe, Dominic Camardella. Recorded at The Hit Factory and Sound On Sound Studios, New York, New York on June 11-13, 1996; Sound Design, Santa Barbara, California on July 12-13. 1996. Includes liner notes by Mark Holston. 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). Audio Mixer: Phil Edwards . Liner Note Author: Mark Holston. Recording information: Hit Factory Studios, New York, NY (06/11/1996-07/13/1996); Sound Design Studios, Santa Barbara, CA (06/11/1996-07/13/1996); Sound On Sound Recording, Inc., New York, NY (06/11/1996-07/13/1996); The Hit Factory, New York, NY (06/11/1996-07/13/1996). Director: Tito Puente. Photographers: David Lubarsky; Janet Sommer. Arrangers: Hilton Ruiz; Marty Sheller; Tito Puente; Tom Garling; Michael Mossman; Jose Madera; Sonny Bravo; Mitch Frohman. 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

JazzTimes (3/97, p.103) - "...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..."

New York City-born percussionist Tito Puente infused his big-band music with the mambo sound he helped to popularize in the US. He started out playing with the likes of Noro Morales and Machito before starting his own band in the late 1940s. Known as "King of the Mambo," Puente styled himself after the great swing-era band leaders, and ruled for years over a dance-oriented world of Latin rhythms spiced with jazz and pop. Through mambo, cha-cha, salsa, and more, Puente's career weathered the ups and downs of musical trends, and the iconic band leader, who passed away in 2000, ranks as a legend of Latin jazz.

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