Larry Harlow's Latin Jazz Encounter Live at Birdland

Latin Beat Magazine, May, 2003 by Gilbert Rivera

(Latin Cool Records)

Salsa legend-bandleader/pianist Larry Harlow finally gets a chance to record his true first love, musically speaking, "jazz music"" on Live At Birdland for the new Latin Cool Records label from New Jersey. As indicated in the title, this CD was recorded live at the world-renowned jazz club Birdland in New York City at the request of Andy Kaufman, co-owner of the club and a connoisseur of jazz and Latin music for many years. Harlow meticulously hand-picked the musicians he felt right for the project: Ronnie Cuber on sax and flute, Bobby Sanabria on drums, Mac Gollehon on trumpet, Eddie "Guagua" Rivera on bass, and Chembo Corniel on percussion. As for the repertoire, there's one original Harlow composition (Pancho Piloncho), plus Tito Puente's Philadelphia Mambo, Willie Bobo's Fried Neckbones, Fats Navarro's Boperation, and Noro Morales' Rumbambola for starters. Somehow, the classic Arsenio Rodríguez composition La Cartera also made the list of Latin jazz selections via a dramatic bass solo by Eddie "Guagua" Rivera. An excellent live recording by Harlow and his Latin Jazz Encounter accomplices.