Afro-Cuban Fantasy

Noted conguero Poncho Sanchez is back on the scene with another infectious album that extended the legacy of his tenure with Cal Tjader's Orchestra. As the titled suggests, Afro-Cuban Fantasy is a celebration of the various dance rhythms that are now known as Latin jazz. A dynamic player with a penchant for muscular rhythm, Sanchez's arrangements exude the calmer energy that's more associated with West-coast jazz as opposed to the ecstatic frenzy of the New York and Miami scene. The plush orchestra of burnished brass sails elegantly over the rumbling rhythms of congas, timbales, and percussion, resulting in an swooning, enticing affair that simmers more than it sizzles. The regal Dianne Reeves contributes some authoritative vocals on several tracks. She ups the ante of excitement on Clare Fisher's "Morning" and seduces wonderfully on the sensuous, "Darn That Dream." As for the instrumentals, Sanchez keenly demonstrates his versatility as he moves from the party-flavored cha-cha on "Subway Harry" to the sensational samba of "Sambroso." This is a delightful CD that sparkles with the danceable reverie of New York's Palladium Ballroom. --John Murph