Puente's Beat / Herman's Heat

by Tito Puente / Woody Herman

Personnel: Tito Puente (vibraphone, drums, timbales, percussion); Charlie Byrd (guitar); Woody Herman (clarinet).

PUENTE'S BEAT/HERMAN'S HEAT documents the collaboration of two great talents of 20th century music: Tito Puente and Woody Herman. Puente takes easily to Herman's swinging sound.

"Latin Flight" is a highlight, serving as a call to dance that even the most uptight can't ignore. Also noteworthy are "Tito Meets Woody," a swinging mambo, and "Cha-Cha Chick," a slow and sexy swinger. "Mambo Herd" is purely a vehicle for Puente to show off at the timbales, despite its being named after Herman, who is the real star here; it's the Herd's distinctive sound that defines this recording, despite the fact that Puente's touch has a great impact on the final sound.