JAZZ REVIEW : Tito Puente Pleases Listeners, Dancers in Anaheim

You’d think a Latin/jazz band headed by a timbales player might be a tad rhythm-heavy. But when Tito Puente’s New York-based octet played JC Fandango Latin Restaurant in Anaheim on Friday, the renowned leader-composer offered an agreeable mix of melody and pulse that kept dancers on the floor and listeners smiling in their seats.

Part of the 63-year-old Puente’s success was due to the snappy arrangements that, throughout the course of a tune, tossed the spotlight around between the leader, the three horns, the individual soloists and the rhythm section in a most democratic fashion.

Several Puente compositions were played. His famous “Oye Como Va” began with Dizzy Gillespie’s “Manteca” bass line, featured Mario Rivera delivering rippling flute bursts over a swaying rhythm, and built to a strong climax as the in-and-out horn lines became more prominent. “Mambo Diablo” had a funky feeling and found Puente on vibes, achieving a Cal Tjader-esque ring. Here, his solo was based on simple melodic patterns that could have been drum riffs, and he repeated each several times before playing the next idea.

The opening “T.P. Special” showcased both Rivera, whose tenor sax solo ran between relaxed statements and rocket rushes, and trumpeter Piro Rodriguez, who offered searing melodies in the soaring upper register. “Autumn Leaves,” done as a bolero (Latin ballad), was Puente all the way, and he blended the well-known melody with improvised passages that gave the number a strong jazz air.

On “Para Cochello,” Puente took his only timbales solo, cooking things up with whirring rolls and off-beat whaps, his sticks furiously attacking the silver drums. He ended by leaning on his instrument, his hand holding his head in mock exhaustion. The only drawback to the show was a below-par sound system that malfunctioned intermittently, making it seem as though there were a blanket over the band.

Fandango, a multi-tiered designed-for-dancing club in the Granada Square shopping center, has been open about a year and has featured such groups as the premier Cuban ensemble La Sonora Mantancera and salsero Eddie Santiago. Upcoming acts include Celio Gonzales on Friday and Saturday, Latin/jazz/rock band Tierra on Sunday, and a special anniversary party with Oscar de Leon on May 15.