ALBUM REVIEWS : <i> Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five stars (a classic).</i>

PONCHO SANCHEZ--****

“Chile Con Soul” Concord Picante CCD-4406

Conga drummer/bandleader/singer Sanchez knows what works. He takes either mainstream jazz or Latin vehicles and instills each with enough essentials from both genres to emerge with a thoroughly pleasing amalgam. That he has a first-rate band with ever-improving soloists, and that he invites timbales king Tito Puente along for a guest slot here, doesn’t hurt.

On this, his sixth Concord Picante release, Sanchez embraces his early association with Cal Tjader by including the swinging Charlie Otwell work, “Song for Cal,” along with Tjader’s “Soul Burst”; and demonstrates his fondness for salsa with Eddie Palmieri’s “Con Migo” and Tito Rodriguez’s “Mama Guela.” For jazz fans, highlights include Gene Burkert’s dry martini alto on the title track and Art Velasco’s rumbling trombone on “Will You Still Be Mine?”

This is roll-back-the-rug stuff