Tito Puente — Umbria Jazz Festival, Perugia, 1993

Live capture of percussionist and bandleader Tito Puente at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy, in 1993. Nicknamed « El Rey del Timbal », the New York-born Puerto Rican is one of the guiding figures of Latin music and Latin jazz, author of the immortal « Oye Como Va » popularised by Santana. This live filmed concert gathers his orchestra in a set where American standards meet Afro-Caribbean rhythms: « On Broadway », « All Blues », « I Concentrate on You », the composition « Point East Memories » by his saxophonist Mitch Frohman, and of course « Oye Como Va » as the climax. Puente’s infectious energy on the timbales, his sense of swing and the excellence of his musicians make this document a vibrant testament to the art of mambo and Latin jazz on stage. For lovers of Latin music, salsa and Afro-Cuban jazz, a reference live concert capturing the magic of a giant a few years before his passing in 2000.