Another exceptional fusion of latin and jazz, this time from a different angle. Inspired by what legendary New Orleans pianist Jelly Roll Morton called the ‘Spanish tinge’, the earlier works and ensemble writing of Duke Ellington and, later, the great percussionist Chano Pozo and his collaboration with Dizzy Gillespie's big band in the late 1940s, young veteran Cuban pianist Elio Villafranca has come up with his three horns and rhythm, two percussionists and dancers, Jass Syncopators, to explore the influence of Caribbean music on jazz. These ‘live’ tracks from dates at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola open with ‘Sunday Stomp at Congo Square’, with Puerto Rican bomba rhythms under a theme with ‘Giant Steps’ changes. ‘Last Trip to Paris’ is a heart-warming ballad depicting lovers walking by the River Seine, with a beautifully scored and moving trumpet-tenor line and Sean Jones displaying those special spacious qualities which are heard on his splendid new Mack Avenue CD Im-Pro-Vise, so astutely reviewed by my colleague Kevin Le Gendre in the September issue. The title tune, an up-tempo minor blues, has 4/4 over more bomba grooves and searing solos by Herring, Tardy, Tarrell and the leader. The sombre Puerto Rican rhythm that underlines the 12 minute ‘Flower By the Dry River’, with its fine understated free solos, is possibly the album's most arresting track. Totally haunting. There's soulful Stafford trumpet and terrific Tardy tenor in ‘Cofradias’ and by Tardy in different vein, on ‘Two To Tango’. The remaining tracks are more dance-dominated and round off a most intelligently planned CD with first-rate musicianship and exciting rhythms by yet another outstanding Cuban jazz pianist-composer.