Latin Giants of Jazz - Trip To Mamboland

Released 2007

Gigante Records

Produced by John Rodriguez Jr and Jose Madera

Orchestrations by Jose Madera

Available at Descarga, Amazon, etc.

1. Cuero Na' Ma 5:21 (comp. Tito Puente. arr. Jose Madera)
2. Mientras Yo Viva 4:21 (comp. Marcellino Guerra. arr. Jose Madera)
3. No Me Molesto 5:56 (comp. Jorge Zamora. arr. Sonny Bravo)
4. Trip To Mamboland 4:47 (comp. Nick Jimenez. arr. Jose Madera)
5. Chao Chao 5:30 (comp. Rosendo Ruiz Jr. arr. Harold Wegbreit)
6. Mambo Is Here To Stay (comp. Gil Fuller & Frank Grillo. arr. Oscar Hernandez)
7. My Best Friends 5:32 (comp. Mitchell Frohman. arr. Joe Manozzi)
8. Everything Happens To Me 6:37 (comp. Matt Dennis & Tom Adair. arr. Marty Sheller)
9. Guaguanco Del Pueblo Nuevo 4:22 (comp. Horacio de la Lastra. arr. Tito Puente)
10. Flamenco Mood 5:29 (comp. & arr. Ray Santos)
11. Alex Mambo 5:36 (comp. & arr. Rene Hernandez)
12. En Francia 4:27 (comp. Justi Barretto. arr. Frank Colon)
13. Michito's Boogaloo 5:55 (comp. Mitchell Frohman. arr. Jose Madera)

Latin Giants of Jazz is made up of late Tito Puente's band and is headed by Jose Madera. With 4 trumpets, 4 trombones and 5 saxophones, what you get is a real big band sound. Considered one of the best albums of 2007, there's a lot to choose from here. With some caveats (speed of some of the songs primarily), I would consider playing songs like Cuero Na' Ma, Trip To Mamboland, Mambo Is Here To Stay, Guaguanco Del Pueblo Nuevo, Flamenco Mood and Alex Mambo (and possibly En Francia) - which is essentially half the album!

Musicians

Raul Agraz / Trumpet
John Walsh / Trumpet
Pete Nater / Trumpet
Richie Viruet / Trumpet
Sam Burtis / Trombone
Reynaldo Jorge / Trombone
Joe Fiedler / Trombone
Noah Bless / Trombone
Bobby Porcelli / Saxophone
Todd Bashore / Saxophone
Mitch Frohman / Saxophone
Peter Brainin / Saxophone
Pete Miranda / Saxophone
Sonny Bravo / Piano
Gerardo Madera / Bass
George Delgado / Conga
John Rodriguez Jr. / Bongos & Percussion
Jose Madera / Timbales, Musical Director & Conductor
Frankie Vazquez / Lead Vocals
Cita Rodriguez, Willie Ruiz & Willie Martinez / Chorus
Willie Torres / Chorus (replacing Willie Martinez in tracks 1, 9, 12)
Tom Harrell / Flugelhorn (track 7)
Bobby Porcelli / Alto Sax (track 8)
Randy Brecker / Trumpet (track 11)
Mario Rivera / Soprano Sax (track 10)
Kevin Bryan / Trumpet (track 10)