The Complete 78's, Vol. 4

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Performer: Tito Puente
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: In the history of Latin music, the name Tito Puente rides as high as that of Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker in jazz or Chuck Berry in rock. Puente combined aspects of various Latin American dance rhythms (mambo, conjunto, Afro-Cuban, son, and others) with big band jazz and assorted American pop styles for a singular sound that continues to globally influence Latin, jazz, and pop music to this day. VOL. 4 of THE COMPLETE 78's series covers the years 1949-1955, which was a pivotal era in different ways. On one hand, jazz was undergoing a revolution called bebop, while the mainstream Top 40 featured squeaky-clean pop songs. To varying degrees, Puente absorbed both into his dazzling, ebullient approach. This is a must for any serious fan of Latin-oriented music.

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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