Sabroso: Afro-Cuban Groove
As tasty as the sizzling dish of chicken, plantains, and black beans that adorns its cover, this 18-track compilation is a serious must-own for anyone even vaguely interested in the percolating Afro-Latin sounds of the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Latin jazz giants like Machito, Tito Puente, and Willie Bobo are represented by some of their finest cuts ("Relax and Mambo," "Hong Kong Mambo," and "Fried Neckbones and Some Home Fries," respectively). Lesser-known talents like Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers ("Heat!"), Kako & His Orchestra ("Shingaling Shingaling"), and Ocho ("Undress My Mind") damn near steal the show with their funk-inflected brilliance.--Dan Epstein