Bobby Sanabria & ¡Quarteto Aché! / Bobby Sanabria & ¡Quarteto Ache!

New York City-based drummer Bobby Sanabria might be considered the Buddy Rich of the Latin jazz percussive arena. He's a firebrand who lays down fervent swing grooves while churning out blazingly fast and amazingly coherent salsa beats amid an altogether complex attack. With this 2002 effort, the drummer leads his quartet through a sequence of torridly executed bop numbers and soul-stirring ballads via his polyrhythmic flurries and penchant for nuance. Saxophonist Jay Collins launches the proceedings with grit and determination on Dizzy Gillespie's bop classic "Shaw 'Nuff." Here and throughout, the band commingles inherent elements of clave with crisply executed time signatures and ferocious exchanges. Even when they explore balladry, the soloists seem more inclined to go for the gusto in lieu of settling for lush romanticism or saccharine statements. It all pans out rather nicely, as this release was among the finest Latin jazz recordings of 2002. [The 2004 Zoho label version features a modified cover design/layout and photography.]