I can't understand why Miramax isn't promoting this movie to the hilt. It's a wonderful concert film posing as a documentary about the history of latin jazz in the US. The director Fernando Trueba has an obvious jones for latin jazz and has chosen to focus on some of the genre's most influential performers and founders, keeping the narrative to a minimum and letting the music speak for itself. And that's where the movie really shines: over and over each artist gives a wonderful performance with lighting and simple set design to make them look their best. The film will probably draw inevitable comparisons to "Buena Vista Social Club", another film presenting latin artists making history through their music. However BVSC focused as much on Ry Cooder's involvement and the musicians' lives in Cuba as the music played. Here Trueba keeps the education brief, and when the performers play, you know why latin jazz changed his life. A terrific date film for anyone who loves music and the chance to see such giants as Tito Puente, Gato Barbieri, Paquito D'Rivera and historic moments shared by Bebo Valdes and his son Chucho as well as his lifelong friend Cachao.
