Jazz : Puente Serves Salsa on a Varied Menu

Tito Puente has achieved his near-legendary status as “El Rey” of Latin music by carefully balancing creative energies with entertaining presentations.

His performance at the Norris Theatre in Palos Verdes Friday night illustrated how much music--complete with often provocative jazz soloing--he can squeeze into a framework of danceable Latin rhythms, happy vocals and easy patter. Neither the delayed arrival of one of his saxophonists (who didn’t show up until after intermission), nor the erratic uncertainty of the stage microphones could undermine the confident, crowd-pleasing flow of the performance.

Puente once again made his familiar disclaimer that he only calls his group “the Latin Jazz All Stars” to “get more work.” What he really plays, he slyly explained, is salsa. True enough, but salsa was only one item on a menu of musical styles whose greatest appeal was the spicy variety of its many offerings.

Puente initiated most of the evening’s musical action. A masterful, dynamically outgoing timbales player, he also revealed a more introspective side with a thoughtful vibraphone reading of “Stella by Starlight.” On several numbers he brought out his niece, Millie Puente--a warm-toned singer and first-rate percussionist--for a series of charismatic timbales duets.

The choice of material underlined Puente’s ability to mix and match. Bennie Golson’s “Killer Joe” and Chick Corea’s “Spain” were out-and-out Latin jazz swingers. Solos by trumpeter Piro Rodriguez, saxophonist Mario Rivera, trombonist Jimmy Frisaura and pianist Sonny Bravo reached toward the outer limits of improvisation, with Rodriguez and Bravo, in particular, seeking out new territory to explore.

“On Broadway” and “Oye Como Va” (a Puente original long associated with Santana), on the other hand, were treated with a glossier touch, emphasizing the potent, dance-like rhythms of Puente, conga player Jose Madera, bongo player Johnny Rodriguez and bassist Bobby Rodriguez.