“The list of artists performing in “”Together Again”” (Juntos Otra Vez)”” reads like a “”Who’s Who”” of today’s Latin scene. For this his impressive fourth US album, trombonist Juan Pablo Torres succeeded in enlisting

nothing but great names. This album is performed exclusively by instrumentalists who have proved their worth in this field many times before in other prjects. Pianist Jesus “”Chucho”” Valdes, for example, made his mark as the founder of the Cuban top orchestraIrakere. The track record of bass player Andy Gonzalez includes support for such prominent artists as John Tchicai, Milton Cardona, Kip Hanrahan or David Sanchez. And tuba virtuoso Bob Stewart has played for jazz heroes like Carla Bley, Gil Evans and Charles Mingus.

These globally sought-after artists are joined by Robin Eubanks (Stevie Wonder, McCoy Tyner, Art Blakey) and Steve Turre (Santana, Ray Charles, Dexter Gordon), two first-class trombone players. The trumpet part is played

by Arturo Sandoval (Dizzy Gillespie). And in the percussion department, last but not least, we find Roberto Vizcaino (Steve Coleman), Horacio Hernandez (John Patitucci) and Giovanni Hidalgo (Freddie Hubbard, Mickey Hart), also impressive names with the very best references.

With these top people J.P. Torres has recorded an enthralling Latin or rather Cuban jazz album with up-to-the-minute sound. He has cleverly combined stylistic elements from his native Cuba with up-to-the-minute sounds from his present US exile. In the track “”Salt And Pepper”” for example, grooves from Castro country meet ultra-modern jazz sounds. “”Ach “” (a Yoruba expression for happiness, manual skill and also for spiritual strength) freely combines stirring rhythmic figures in 3-4 time with freely arranged improvisations.