AMG Review of Best of the Concord Years

Al Campbell
All Music Guide

The Best of the Concord Years collects 24 tracks over two discs from the final portion of Latin band leader and percussionist Tito Puente's career, which spanned six decades. During that time, Puente never strayed far from his jazz roots, as demonstrated by the inclusion of compositions by John Coltrane, Horace Silver, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, George Shearing, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker, Paul Desmond, and Charles Mingus. Considering Puente's substantial output on Concord Picante, some of this material may have slipped through the cracks the first time around. The Best of the Concord Years provides another chance to hear several fiery Afro-Cuban jazz performances, proving that "The King of Latin Music" refused to slow down, even after it was expected of him.