by Scott Yanow
This spirited program, recorded over a four-year period, teams trombonist Roswell Rudd with the fluent cuatro player Yomo Toro (the cuatro is a four-string guitar) and a variety of musicians equally skilled at Afro-Cuban, modern mainstream and South American-flavored jazz, not to mention tangos. Rudd is the wild card, adding wit, flexible jazz phrasing and his musical personality to a diverse set of music. The rhythm sections (which on four songs include percussionist-drummer Bobby Sanabria) are full of power and effortless polyrhythms, there are occasional vocals, and the personnel and instrumentation change from cut to cut, holding one's interest throughout. Rudd's charming &Tango for Chris& is a high point.