

The Nuyorican singer/percussionist cut his teeth in jazz outfits led by Cal Tjader, among others, and his timbales invigorate standards like "A Night in Tunisia" and M***o Santamaria's "Afro Blue". After forming his own group, Bobo hit his stride with 1965's Spanish Grease and went on to pioneer the easygoing Latin-jazz sound of Spanish Harlem. Tasty grooves nourish irresistibly cool tracks like "Broasted or Fried" and "Fried Neck Bones and Some Homefries", while the title track and "Evil Ways" became bedrock touchstones for Carlos Santana's acid-tinged Latin rock.