Mardi Gras Mambo: Cubanisimo in New Orleans
The musical relationship between Havana and New Orleans dates  back centuries. Both cities share an Afro-Caribbean cultural heritage,  and both take great pride in keeping that heritage alive. So it really  shouldn't be too surprising that this mating--co-produced by Joe Boyd  with Cubanismo's Jesús Alemañy and the Yockamo All-Stars'  Mark Bingham--comes off so naturally. The stunning "Shallow Water  Suite," featuring Crescent City R&B; singer John Boutte, solidifies the  African-based spiritual connection between New Orleans mardi-gras  chants and Cuban rumba, whileErnie K-Doe's "Mother-In-Law" receives a clever bilingual workout. But the heart of the album is in the original  instrumental hybrids such as "Cuborleans," "Gumbo Son," and  Alemañy's "Boogaloo," on which trumpeter Alemañy earns an  honorary place in the great New Orleans tradition that extends fromBuddy BoldenandLouis ArmstrongtoWynton MarsalisandNicholas Payton.--Rick Mitchell