Zoo Party

This powerhouse ensemble from San Francisco, led by pianist Christian Tumalan and trumpeter Steffen Kuehn, rejuvenates the Latin big band sounds of the 1940s through 1960s (the legendary mambo sounds of Machito and his Afro-Cubans, Tito Puente, and Tito Rodriguez), on this sizzling self-titled debut. Richly textured arrangements flow through this entire production with exquisite playing by California's ace musicians. With a repertoire of mostly original scores, the selections move with a frenetic mammoth pace, producing palpable sounds, rhythms, and beats, like only a true big band is capable of.