Manhattan Latin captures
Dave Pike in flux between the straight-ahead approach of his earlier sessions and the psychedelic pop-jazz of his efforts for MPS: a playful yet methodical immersion into pure, sunkissed groove, its artful assimilation of global rhythms and textures anticipates the direction of
Pike's most memorable work. Recorded with an impressive lineup including flautist
Hubert Laws, drummer
Willie Bobo and then-unknown pianist
Chick Corea, the album largely eschews familiar Latin standards in favor of
Pike originals. What's impressive is that the end result seems completely organic, living up to the album's title in terms of both sophistication and flavor. Phenomenal cover, too.