Continuing with their lucrative and collectible trend of packaging "essential" artists into two disc career retrospectives—from Tony Bennett and Johnny Mathis to Simon & Garfunkel and Bruce Springsteen—Sony now offers arguably the most influential and successful Latin jazz artist ever his own introductory overview. Culled from his record-breaking 130 albums are 40 sizzling cuts that'll have you mamboing your blues away.

Tito Puente was born in Spanish Harlem in 1923. Inspired by his idol Gene Krupa, he took up the drums as a kid, gigged with various bands in ballrooms across the continent, until eventually his Cuban flavored jazz—known originally as "Cubop"—dovetailed with the rising popularity of mambo music in the early 50s.

Along with Desi Arnez and Perez Prado, Puente became an international Latin music star, equally at home playing with the likes of John Coltrane and Charlie Parker as he was the various all-stars featured in his own band over the years, including Willie Bobo, Charlie Palmieri, and Johnny Pacheco. His influenced modern latino artists like Carlos Santana—check out his original 1962 version of their signature hit "Oye Como Va"—and his brassy, percussive cha-cha style infused and enlivened such standards as Ellington's "Take the A Train" and "What Is This Thing Called Love".

Most of the tracks here have seductive, exotic titles like "Witch Doctor's Nightmare", "Havana After Dark", and "Night Hawk". Equally sensuous in all tempos, Tito was uniquely adept at creating a suave, lush, darkly romantic mood with his famed orchestra. But most of the time, you'll feel inspired to sway, even while sitting at your computer, to numbers like "Swingin' the Mambo" and "Dance Mania".

This is the bongo-beat lounge soundtrack to the pastel, art deco Miami Beach/Havana scene of our collective dreams—seductive, soulful swing emanating from a celestial Technicolor nightclub that can only be spiritually accessed via this CD set. Just close your eyes and mambo with the master, baby.

Will "The Thrill" Viharo is a freelance writer, host of the film series “Forbidden Thrills” at Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge, and creator of the long running cult movie cabaret “Thrillville.” He lives in Alameda, CA with his wife Monica “Tiki Goddess” Cortes and their two cats. His pulp novels “A Mermaid Drowns in the Midnight Lounge,” "Chumpy Walnut," and "Down a Dark Alley" are now available at http://stores.lulu.com/willviharo For more please surf over to www.thrillville.net