Barretto, Ray
Concord, 2003, CD
Instrument: Drums
Issue: 9.4
Jazz Ruler Type: Latin
Performance: 4
Sound: 4-
Score: 
O’s Notes: 1993’s Ancestral Messages and 1994’s Taboo are combined for the remixed Hot Hands, a 2-CD package. Common musicians on both albums are Ray Vega (t), pianist Hector Martignon, Jairo Moreno on bass, Satoshi Takeishi (d) and of course the leader Ray Baretto (congas and percussion). The sound is vibrant and engaging on both new tunes and rearranged standards like “Killer Joe”. We preferred the more exotic sounds of the second disc but both are testaments to the use of congas to accentuate Latin jazz.
