El “Ray” Criollo

Tearing into new forms of tropical-minded expressions, Ray Barretto’s Latin jazz-driven El “Ray” Criollo charts the mighty ‘60s synthesis of the salsa dura and Afro-Cuban styles. Brilliant hard brass takes a powerful role on “Salsa y Dulzura” as larger-than-life choruses deliver with swaggering conviction; the son cubano of “Rareza en Guajira” boasts coolly mean keys that set a crimson-lit mood for a danzón. Showcasing their wide versatility for rhythmic fusion, Barretto and co. stun us with the tender instrumental “The Shadow of Your Smile.”