Dancemania 99: Live At Birdland [LIVE]
It has been 40 years since Tito's firstDancemaniaalbum captured the explosion of Latin sound from his band, who were then packing in the dancers at New York's Palladium. This live album recaptures that feel, using a bigger band than the original, but the same arrangements. The major difference is that this time the soloists have more space in which to stretch out, and they take full advantage of the opportunity. But at the same time, this is Latin jazz that never forgets it was made for dancing. The rhythms percolate and boil, the horns reach for the sky, and everybody just wants to mambo. Not many people get a chance to remake and remodel their past this way; even fewer could do it this well.--Chris Nickson