I’m celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month this year in the best way that I know how – by making some music! This Thursday, percussionist, composer, arranger, and bandleader – and one of my heroes – the unforgettable Tito Puente, will be celebrating his 100th birthday. Tito holds a special place in the Latin Jazz world as an artist who held a wealth of knowledge on many musical worlds and could entertain crowds with pure joy. Equally proficient playing salsa and jazz, Puente moved seamlessly between these two worlds, connecting with dancers and listeners alike. He might be best known for writing the classic “Oye Como Va” – famously covered by Carlos Santana – but he did so much for the music world, his legacy should be remembered forever.

Tito wore many hats throughout his career – and excelled in all of them – and for my tribute, I’ve decided to lean on his strength as an arranger with a song that he moved into a Latin Jazz context, “Flight To Jordan.” Originally written by pianist Duke Jordan, Puente took this swinging tune and arranged it around a high energy son montuno groove. I always loved the version that he recorded with the Golden Latin Jazz All-Stars and tried to capture a little bit of that energy here. Once again, this was a Bass Collective adventure, so I’ve put it together using my Double Bass and my Six String Bass Guitar. I love playing this song – it always connects with the genius of Tito Puente. I hope it does the same for you!

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