The world of Latino Music is as broad as it is varied. From Tierra del Fuego to urban centers such as New York and Los Angeles, Latin Music covers the spectrum of color, language and nationalities. The task of putting a compilation of Latin inspirations would seem to be an arduous one but Chesky Records has succeeded in such an endeavor with their release of "Jazz Latino: A Collection of Latin Inspirations."

In this CD you'll find an exotic, eclectic mix of artists as well as rhythms. From Salsa/Mambo/Jazz to Tango, the CD takes us on a musical tour of the always inspired world of Latin Music. Grammy Award-winner Paquito D'Rivera opens the collection with the Latin standard "The Peanut Vendor" in an energetic and modern arrangement. Monty Alexander's "Consider" is such a joy with the steel drum sweetness carried throughout the arrangement. The listener does not need to speak Portuguese to be wrapped-up in the melancholic rendition of Leny Andrade's "Manha de Carnival", a beautiful ballad executed simply with piano and voice. Notable on this collection is Phil Woods "Nada Sera Como Antes" Bossa Nova at its finest. Paquito D'Rivera steers us back to the rhythmic Latin Jazz idiom with "Chucho", a foot tapping prelude to the passionate Tango Bar's "Como Dos Extranos", a throwback to the time and place of what made Carlos Gardel synonymous with Tango. Full of fire and lament and beautifully performed is Astor Piazzolla's

Certainly this CD is only a small sample of the ever expanding world of Latin Music. But it does succeed in bringing the passion, talent and imagination of musicians who love the idiom and complexity of Latin inspired music.