Juan Calle And His Latin Lantzmen

Mazeltov, Mis Amigos is a real oddity in the history of both Latin jazz and Jewish music. Though the LP was billed to Juan Calle and His Latin Lantzmen, in truth that was a pseudonym for a group of heavyweight talents including Ray Barretto, Charlie Palmieri, Clark Terry, Doc Cheatham, and Willie Rodriguez. As the album title intimated, the idea was to put Jewish standards to Latin jazz arrangements. Thus, the album included the most famous Jewish standard of all, "Havah Nagilah," as a "cha-cha-cha," and others as mambos, merengues, and sambas. As is the case with many an ambitious fusion, the product wasn't as intriguing as the formula. The playing is fairly hot, and the melodies recognizably Jewish in character, if never as familiar as "Havah Nagilah." It does sound sort of kitschy, however, especially on the numbers featuring rather stentorian vocals. That might be part of the attraction for some listeners, and it is too well played to be classified as a novelty, if only just.