The band name sounds vaguely ironic, and the homebase of Los Angeles might raise an eyebrow, but Bongo-Logic is in it for the right reasons and with proper chops. Percussionist Brett Collins leads this tight charanga outfit, whose music is Cuban-oriented and then some, propulsive and smart. Their new album, Tipqueros (Rykolatino 1003; 54:38) celebrates the cohesion of the ensemble, built up from a percussion section beneath the flute and violin melodic front, punctuated by pianist Joe Rotundo (a pillar of the Poncho Sanchez band). Jazz creeps in from the sides, as on a pulsating version of the Alan Broadbent tune “Be-bop and Roses,” and a clever, reharmonized version of “Just Friends,” arranged by Harry Scorzo and re-dubbed “Just Friendly.”
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