E Street is an all-star affair led by percussionist
Pete Escovedo, the father of drummer/percussionist
Sheila E., who also guests on
E Street along with several Escovedo siblings, saxophonists
John Handy,
Gerald Albright and
Mel Martin, and pianist/vibraphonist
Buddy Montgomery.
E Street seems to expend a great deal of energy going in a lot of different directions -- wide-open freeways of Latin rock, lit up with horns and sparkling with guitar, piano, trumpet and of course percussion solos; rolling, soft cha-cha ballads; and new yet familiar byways with covers of
Earth Wind & Fire's "Fantasy" and
Stevie Wonder's "Another Star" -- but it never seems to actually GET anywhere. The only breaks in the placid scenery come from the appropriately titled fiesta jam "Like a Volcano" and the surprisingly stirring, hymn-with-vocals "Lord Remember Me," which closes this set. ~ Chris Slawecki