Bandleader/composer/LA standard bearing DJ Jose Rizo once again puts his Jazz On the Latin Side band on hold and delivers an encore session by the equally impressive and oh so slightly smoother Mongorama. This most recent album has some suavely swinging instrumentals such as “Skins” and “La Princesa” with cooking solos by Justo Almario/ts and Danilo Lozano/fl respectively, but the majority of tunes favors mezzo tenor vocals by Destani Wolf and James Zavaleta. A wonderful version of “Suavecito” glides like wind surfing, while “Adoro Tus Ojos” is warm and embracing. A cooking percussion avalanche occurs when Poncho Sanchez sits in and goes mano a mano with Ramon Banda on “Son Wambari”. Even more enjoyable is a cute dialogue/vocal/guitar solo by guest Kenny Burrell who guests on a charming “Say Yes to Love.” Rizo won’t have to feel guilty plugging his own disc on the radio-it deserves lots of airplay!
Sangu Records