Much marketing ado will no doubt be made over the wonderful dream-come-true nature of the legendary conguero's pairing with jazz piano great
Chick Corea, in a setting which brings the latter back to his roots playing with
Mongo Santamaria in the '60s. And the two
Corea-touched tracks are definite highlights. He wrote the jumpy, heavy-chorded jam title track, which finds him doing call and response with feisty horns as
Sanchez pitter patters fancifully in the background; the piano improvisations between these interactions are characteristically mind-boggling, as
Corea switches off from bebop to hardcore Latin ivory sweeps. He also tackles the frisky
Wayne Shorter piece "Juju," dipping and swooping over and under the horns as, once again,
Sanchez works up a frenzy all around him. But
Sanchez' vision extends way beyond just the
Corea songs, as he creates an exciting travelogue through various styles that go beyond just Latin jazz. "Sambia" is sassy Havana salsa all the way, but the bluesy "Next Exit" -- featuring
David Torres on piano -- is what might happen if
Ramsey Lewis found himself at a Latin jazz party. The fun part of being a percussionist is surrounding yourself with brilliant soloists, and
Sanchez picks a true winner in saxman
Scott Martin, whose rich baritone drives "Next Exit." "Going Back to New Orleans" is all party blues with shouting voices and a
Dr. John-like vocal by Dale Spalding. "Quieres Volver" is a dreamy romance set firmly in San Juan, with strings and
Sanchez' own raspy vocals. Tucked deep into the disc are two other can't-miss spots on the itinerary: the festive Manhattan-styled jaunt "Tito in the City" (an obvious tribute to the mastery of
Tito Puente) and the funky, struttin' "Early in the Morning," which recalls
Louis Jordan's Calypso jive circa the mid-'40s (also featuring Spalding on lead vocals). Just when you think this disc can't get any better,
Sanchez delights in making every next note and tour stop a surprise. ~ Jonathan Widran