Tito Puente and His Orchestra – Dance Mania – RCA/Sony Legacy 88697 44710,Disc 1: 68:30 Disc 2: 65:31 ****:
(Tito Puente, leader, arranger, timbales; Santos Colon, vocals and guira; Vincent Frisaura, trumpet; Carl “Doc” Severinson, trumpet; Allen Lehrfield, saxophone; Peter Fanelli, saxophone; Gilbert Lopez, piano; Robert Rodriqeuz, bass; Jose Mangual, bongos, plus many more)
As someone who doesn’t know the difference between samba, cha-cha, and mambo, the thing that stands out to me most about the music of Tito Puente is its swing. His music’s movement is irresistible. Built on a rhythmic foundation of timbales, congas, and bongos that dictates everything else, Puente’s arrangements utilize counterpoint, the horns and the vocals playing off the percussion and creating an incredibly vibrant tension.
Released in 1957 to capitalize on the Latin music craze and Puente’s celebrity status as king of Palladium Ballroom in New York City, Dance Mania kicks off with El Cayuco (The Square), which features a wonderful horn arrangement and soulful vocals from Santos Colon. Most of the songs on Dance Mania have very simple, very catchy melodies, the kind that get stuck in your head even if you don’t understand the language. Hong Kong Melody, a slightly un-PC Mambo-meets-the-Orient song (at least Puente didn’t play a gong), features gorgeous vibes playing meant to mimic the high keening sounds of traditional Chinese instruments. Estoy Siempre Junto A Ti, is the album’s only ballad and it shows a strong jazz influence. According to the liner notes, many of the big names from Birdland, like Charlie Parker. Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis, would sometimes join Puente on stage at the Palladium.
Disc 1’s extras include two outtakes, one of El Cayuco, and one of Estoy Siempre Junto A Ti, as well as seven selections from other Puente albums, like Cuban Carnival and Mucho Puente. Disc 2 is the entirety of the Dance Mania Vol. 2 album, which features much more group singing and wonderful songs like Una Mujer, a ballad that features exquisite vibes playing from Puente and a sentimental vocal from Santos Colon. Disc 2’s extras include three outtakes and almost half of Tito’s Mucho Cha Cha album.
I highly recommend the Dance Mania reissue set, especially for those who don’t consider themselves Mambo fans. Try as you might, it’s hard to dislike music this vibrant and fun.
TrackList: Includes El Cayuco, 3D Mambo, Hong Kong Mambo, Mambo Gozon, Saca Tu Mujer, Havana After Dark, Yambeque, A Goza Timbero, Si Te Contrara, Una Mujer, Baila Como Es, Cua Cua, Chanchullo, El Bajo, and Suave Asi.
– Daniel Krow
