After the breakup of his large Latin band Azteca, percussionist
Pete Escovedo, with the assistance of
Billy Cobham, recorded two albums for Fantasy that costarred his teenage daughter
Sheila E. on conga and timbales. All of the music from the 1976 and 1978 sessions is on this single CD, except for one song left out due to lack of space. Augmenting their rhythm section (which includes keyboardist
Mark Soskin and, on the second date, drummer Cobham) with guests from the Bay Area (most notably trumpeter
Tom Harrell and the woodwinds of
Mel Martin), the Escovedos perform music that crosses many boundaries. Ranging from fusion to Latin jazz with pop sensibilities, most of the slightly commercial instrumental music is reasonably creative and always infectious. This CD will appeal to pop, salsa and open-minded jazz listeners alike. ~ Scott Yanow