Tito Puente – Mambo Birdland

Released 1999

Dedicated to Mario Bauza

RMM Records

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc.

All songs arranged by Tito Puente except (5,9) originally arranged by Tito Puente and adapted by Jose Madera

1. Mambo Birdland 5:36 (Tito Puente)
2. Juventud Del Presente 5:39 (Silvestre Mendez)
3. Ban Ban Quere 5:36 (C. Varela)
4. Como Esta Migue 5:43 (Felipe Neri Cabrera)
5. Cha Cha Cha Mambo 8:53 (Tito Puente)
6. Guaguanco Margarito 7:22 (Silvestre Mendez)
7. Mi Mamita 6:22 (Tito Puente)
8. Mambo Gozon 4:56 (Tito Puente)
9. Oye Mi Guaguanco 7:57 (Tito Puente)
10. Ran Kan Kan 6:26 (Tito Puente)
11. Oye Como Va 5:54 (Tito Puente)

Three Salsa (Mambo Gozon, Oye Mi Guaguanco, Ran Kan Kan) and one Cha Cha (Oye Como Va) made salsanewyork.com honor list. This live recording also contains some conversations between Puente, the band and the audience lasting up to about half minute on most of the tracks. It’s even better than Live At Birdland.

I believe this is Tito Puente's second to last album containing all new recording. Essentially all of Tito Puente recordings were made with Tico (from 1949 to 1955, 1961 to 1981), RCA Victor (1955-1960), Concord Picante (1982-1996 - there is a 2002 release of a 1994 recording), and RMM (1991-2000). Tito Puente's RMM discography of original material is as follows in reverse chronological order.

Tito Puente - RMM albums
2000 Obra Maestra (with Eddie Palmieri)
1999 Mambo Birdland
1998 Live At Birdland (Dancemania '99)
1996 Jazzin' (with India)
1995 Tito's Idea
1992 Live At the Village Gate
1991 The Mambo King: His 100th Album

Musicians

Tito Puente / Timbales and Chorus
Reynaldo Jorge / Trombone
Lewis Kahn / Trombone
Chris Washburne / Trombone (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Juan Pablo Torres / Trombone (2,3,4,10)
Peter Yellin / Alto Sax
Mitchell Frohman / Alto Sax (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Bobby Porcelli / Alto Sax (2,3,4,10)
Mario Rivera / Tenor Sax and Flute
Pedro Miranda / Baritone Sax (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Mitchell Frohman / Baritone Sax (2,3,4,10)
Kevin Bryan / Trumpet
Ray Vega / Trumpet and Flugelhorn
John Walsh Jr. / Trumpet
Hector Colon / Trumpet
Sonny Bravo / Piano
John Rodriguez Jr / Bongo and Congas
Jose Madera / Congas
Luis Bauza / Bata (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Thomas “Chuckie” Lopez / Percussion
Bernard Minoso / Bass (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Ruben Rodriguez / Bass (2,3,4,10)
Carlos Henriquez / Bass (2,3,4,10)
Pedro Rodriguez / Chorus (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Nilsa Rodriguez / Chorus (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Frankie Morales / Lead Vocals

Tito Puente – Dancemania ’99 Live At Birdland

Released 1998

Dedicated to Jimmy Frisaura & Santitos Colon

RMM Records 82270

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc.

All songs arranged by Tito Puente except (7) arranged by Sonny Bravo and (4,5,6) originally arranged by Tito Puente and adapted by Jose Madera

1. Lullaby of Birdland 1:10 (George Shearing)
2. Mambo Inn 8:24 (M. Bauza, E. Sampson, G. Woodland)
3. Cayuco 8:13 (Tito Puente)
4. Complicacion 6:31 (Francisco Aguabella)
5. Mambo En Blues 7:13 (Tito Puente)
6. Babarabatiri 8:16 (Antar Daly)
7. A Donde Vas 10:18 (Tito Puente)
8. Flauta Y Timbal 6:45 (Tito Puente)
9. Mas Bajo 7:44 (Tito Puente)
10. Cua Cua 8:06 (Jesus Guevara)

I believe this is Tito Puente's third from final album of all new recordings.

Three Salsa (Mambo Inn, Babarabatiri, Cua Cua) and two Cha Cha (A Donde Vas, Mas Bajo) made salsanewyork.com honor list. This live recording includes conversations between Puente, the band and the audience lasting up to about half minute between each track. It’s fabulous.

Musicians

Tito Puente / Percussion and Chorus
Peter Yellin / Alto Sax
Bobby Porcelli / Alto Sax
Mitchell Frohman / Baritone Sax
Juan Pablo Torres / Trombone
Reynaldo Jorge / Trombone
Lewis Kahn / Trombone
Kevin D. Bryan / Trombone
Raymond Vega / Trumpet
John Walsh / Trumpet
Thomas Lopez / Trumpet
Sonny Bravo / Piano and Chorus
John Rodriguez / Bongo
Chucky Lopez / Percussion
Jose Madera / Congas
Ruben Rodriguez / Bass
Carlos Henriquez / Bass
Frankie Morales / Vocals
Joe King / Chorus
Dave Valentin / Flute

Tito Puente & Eddie Palmieri - Obra Maestra

Recorded 2000

RMM Records
ASIN B00004TRUP

Available at Amazon
(clips available)

1. La Ultima Copa 5:09 (comp. J. Caruso/F. Canaro; arr. E. Palmieri)
2. Muddy's club blues in Weinheim 3:24 (comp. E. Palmieri/E. Palmieri II; arr. E. Palmieri)
3. Cielito lindo, La negra mariachi medley 5:03 (arr. R. Santos)
4. Marchando bien 4:14 (E. Palmieri/F. Aguabella; arr. T. Puente)
5. Picadillo Jam 5:17 (comp. & arr. T. Puente)
6. El Puente mundial 5:50 (comp. & arr. T. Puente; lyrics J. Medina)
7. El beso 6:25 (comp. F. Moraleda/A. Ortega Marti; arr. E. Palmieri)
8. El bochinche 4:19 (comp. E. Palmieri/R.M. Prieto; arr. J. Madera)
9. Ensename tu, Piensalo bien bolero medley 6:45 (arr. R. Santos)
10. Paris Mambo 4:12 (comp. & arr. E. Palmieri)
11. Yambu Pa' Inglaterra 3:56 (comp. & arr. E. Palmieri)
12. Itutu ache 7:59 (comp. & arr. E. Palmieri)

First collaboration between Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri. Final recording made by Tito Puente and released after his death. Two songs (Picadillo Jam - instrumental, Paris Mambo - Oscar D'Leon as the vocalist) made salsanewyork.com honor roll. The album features an all-star line-up including guest vocalists Oscar D'Leon, Michael Stuart, Jerry Medina, Herman Olivera, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Frankie Morales, Milton Cardona.

Tito Puente - Dance Mania Volume 2

Recorded 1960 and 1957

RCA
ASIN B0000A4G5Z

Available at Amazon
(clips available)

1. Gozar Timbero [Son Montuno] (Ovaldo Estivill)
2. Si Te Contara [Bolero-Cha Cha Cha] (Felix Reina)
3. Separala Tambien [Cha-Cha Mambo] (J.R. Sanchez)
4. Caonao [Afro Jazz] (Tito Puente)
5. Una Mujer [Bolero] (Paul Mirraki)
6. Baila Como Es [Mambo] (Tito Puente)
7. Dance Mania [Mambo-Jazz Instrumental] (Tito Puente)
8. Por Que Te Perdi [Bolero] (Benjamin Cole)
9. Guancona [Guaguanco] (Tito Puente)
10. Son Guacha [Son Con Cha Cha] (Tito Puente)
11. Con Sandunga [Guaguanco] (Julito Collazo)
12. Cua Cua [Mambo] (Tito Puente)
13. Mambozooka [Mambo-Jazz Instrumental] (Marty Holmes)
14. Havana After Dark [Mambo-Jazz Instrumental] (Chico O'Farrill)

One song (Cua Cua) made salsanewyork.com honor roll.

Musicians (tracks 1-12):
Leader, Arranger, Timbales & Vibraphone: Tito Puente
Lead Vocals: Santitos Colon
Chorus: Santitos Colon, Felo Brito & Eladio Peguero
Trumpets: Doc Severinsen, Bernie Glow, Pedro Boulong, Jimmy Frisaura & Patrick Russon
Tenor Sax and Flute: Rafael Palau
Alto Sax and Flute: Pete Fannelli
Alto Sax: Allen Fields
Baritone Sax: Scheppe Pullman
Piano: Gilberto Lopez
Bass: Bobby Rodriguez
Congas: Carlos "Patato" Valdez, Ray Barretto, Julito Collazo
Bongos: Jose Mangual Jr.
Timbales: Joe Rodriguez
Guiro: Santitos Colon

notable musicians for tracks 13 & 14 recorded in 1956 include:
Conga: Mongo Santamaria
Bongos: Willie Bobo

Tito Puente - Dance Mania Volume 1

Recorded 1957

RCA
ASIN B00009QP4A

Available at Amazon
(clips available)


1. El Cayuco [Son Montuno]
2. Complicacion [Guaguanco] (comp. Aguabella)
3. 3-D Mambo [Mambo Jazz Instrumental] (comp. Santos)
4. Llego Mijan [Son Montuno]
5. Cuando Te Vea [Guaguanco]
6. Hong Kong Mambo
7. Mambo Gozon [Mambo]
8. Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembe [Cha Cha Cha Bembe]
9. Varsity Drag [Mambo Jazz Instrumental] (comp. De Syla/Brown/Henderson)
10. Estoy Siempre Junto A Ti [Bolero] (comp. Delgado)
11. Agua Limpia Todo [Guaguanco] (comp. Aguabella)
12. Saca Tu Mujer [Guaracha]

All songs composed by Tito Puente except indicated otherwise.

Four Salsa/Mambo (Cuando Te Vea, Hong Kong Mambo, Mambo Gozon, Agua Limpia Todo) and one Cha Cha (El Cayuco) made salsanewyork.com honor roll. It's a classic.

Musicians:
Tito Puente / Leader, Arranger, Timbales, Vibraphone, Marimbas
Bernie Glow / Trumpet
Jimmy Frisaura / Trumpet
Frank Lo Pinto / Trumpet
George Lopez / Trumpet
Gene Rapetti / Trumpet
Larry Moser / Trumpet
Leon Merian / Trumpet
Rafael Palau / Saxophone
Jerry Sanfino / Saxophone
Schepp Pullman / Saxophone
Tony Buonpastore / Saxophone
Raymond Concepcion / Piano
Bobby Rodrigue / Bass
Ray Barretto / Conga
Julito Collazo / Percussion
Ray Rodriguez / Bongos
Vitin Aviles / Chorus
Otto Olivar / Chorus
Santitos Colon / Chorus, Lead Vocals

Tito Puente - Oye Como Va: The Dance Collection

Released 1997

Concord Picante
ASIN B000003OZA

Available at Amazon
(clips available)


1. Mambo King (3:10)
2. Mambo Gallego (5:06)
3. Chang (4:22)
4. Mambo Diablo (4:09)
5. Ode to Cachao (6:33)
6. Maria Cervantes (5:04)
7. Machito Forever (5:59)
8. Picadillo A Lo Puente (3:50)
9. Tito's Colada (3:39)
10. Delirio (5:15)
11. Oye Como Va (5:42)
12. Ran Kan Kan (5:09)
13. El Rey Del Timbal (3:07)

All songs composed and arranged by Tito Puente except Maria Cervantes (comp. Noro Morales) and Delirio (comp. Cesar Portillo de la Luz) and Ode to Cachao (comp. T. Puente; arr. Jose Madera). This is a compilation of songs from eight Concord Picante Records released between 1982 and 1996. Final four tracks are from a live recording. Three Salsa/Mambo (Mambo Diablo, Picadillo A Lo Puente, Ran Kan Kan) and two Cha Cha (Ode to Cachao, Oye Como Va) made salsanewyork.com honor roll.

Concord Picante is the third record label Tito Puente had long relationship with. The first two are Tico (from 1949 to 1955, 1961 to 1981) and RCA Victor (1955-1960). The Concord Picante recordings tend to lean towards Jazz and have outstanding sound quality. I list original Tito Puente albums by Concord Picante in reverse chronological order below. Some of the albums have since been repackaged as double-albums with new titles (e.g. Hot Timbales, Puente Caliente, Party At Puente's Place).

Tito Puente - Concord Picante albums
2002 Live At The Playboy Jazz Festival (1994 recording)
1996 Special Delivery
1994 Master Timbalero
1993 Royal T
1992 Mambo Of The Times [Hot Timbales]
1991 Out of This World [Hot Timbales]
1990 Goza Mi Timbal
1988 Salsa Meets Jazz
1987 Sensacion [Puente Caliente]
1987 Un Poco Loco [Puente Caliente]
1985 Mambo Diablo [Party At Puente's Place]
1984 El Rey
1982 On Broadway [Party At Puente's Place]