by Stewart Mason
A reissue of an obscure 1971 release by New York Latin soul-jazz heavyweights Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers, this version of Yaina tacks on a remarkable reworking of the Rolling Stones' &You Can't Always Get What You Want& at the front, with an opening section even more dolorous and somber than the original that quickly shifts into a hot, percussion-heavy workout with an almost gospel-like quality. Why it wasn't on the original album is a mystery, because it towers over the rest of these songs. Not that there aren't some gems here; &Cease the Bombing& manages to make an effective anti-war statement just with flutes, vibes, gentle percussion, and a melancholy wordless vocal chorus, and a funked-up cover of John Coltrane's classic &Naima& works surprisingly well. Some of the tracks, though, are simply undistinguished riffs worked over for a few minutes and then dropped with little elaboration. Luckily, the good-to-great tracks outnumber the bummers.