Poncho Sanchez - Instant Party (2004)

Instant Party includes 11 previously released tracks by bandleader and conga player Poncho Sanchez, focusing on his Concord label recordings. Unlike similar Concord artists who have recorded for numerous labels during their career, including Mongo Santamaria and Tito Puente, Sanchez has been with the company for the majority of his career, making the track picks truly depict the best of his overall output as opposed to just his output on a particular label. Taken from 11 separate albums, highlights include "Listen Here/Cold Duck Time," "Chile con Soul," "One Mint Julep" (with Ray Charles), "Bésame Mama" (with Mongo Santamaria), and "Watermelon Man." These tracks deliver exactly what the title promises while presenting the Latin jazz novice with a quality sampling of Poncho Sanchez. -- Al Campbell