Latin Spirits
Grammy Award-winning California-based percussionist Poncho Sanchez is a Latin-jazz superstar from the old school. His thunderous hand-drumming style is derived fromMongo Santamaria, and he performed with vibes masterCal Tjaderfor years before he made a name for himself as a leader. On this recording, Sanchez gives you danceable grooves for the head and the heart. Backed by a large ensemble, Sanchez travels the New World in search of Latin sounds, stylistically docking in the musical ports of Havana, New York, and New Orleans. He spices up several Afro-Cuban standards, including the festiveMachitoanthem "Sambia" andTito Rodriguez's "Batiri Cha Cha." Special guestChick Coreawrote the title track and he dazzles the ear with his Afro-Iberian pianisms on a furious folkloric rendering ofWayne Shorter's Blue Note classic, "Ju Ju." Vocalists Dale Spalding andLedisiadd the right Crescent City seasoning to "Going Back to New Orleans" and theLouis Jordancalypso jump tune, "Early in the Mornin'." With Poncho Sanchez, good grooves are just a downbeat away.--Eugene Holley Jr.