Sue Miller dreams of the summer with 'La Bala' from Mas Y Mas and concludes that despite being recorded in Cuba, 'La Bala' is in many ways an album of nicely arranged Spanish pop songs, albeit with a Cuban tinge……

Mas y Mas are a Latin trio who went to Cuba to arrange and record their songs in 2008 - the result is a pleasant vocal-led, guitar-based album with songs in Spanish, French and English by the lead vocalist Rikki Thomas-Martinez. There are some nice touches from the mellow brass of trumpet and trombone, tres from Miguel Martinez Rosas from Papa Oviedo y sus Soneros and Chaguito on percussion (who incidentally has taught many percussionists in the north of England due to his involvement with La Timbala). Its also good to hear the flute of veteran Charanga player Melquiades Fundora who died last February aged 83 (in the 1950s Melquiades played a storm in his own band Orquesta Sublime). His flute does not feature much on this album but it is nice to include him on this his last recording.

hypnotic bass line, crisp bongo playing and an atmospheric flute sound

Perhaps as a flute player myself my favourite track on the recording is 'La Bala' which has a hypnotic bass line, crisp bongo playing and an atmospheric flute sound reminiscent of Chick Corea's 'Return to Forever' album from 1972. The CD is nicely packaged with all the lyrics and their translations printed out alongside Mediterranean-style water colour paintings by Mimi Thomas. Probably a little too mellow for me as a hardened Charanguera 'La Bala' is nevertheless a thoughtfully arranged, agreeable album that would probably be the perfect accompaniment to a glass of chardonnay in the sunshine (when summer finally gets here!).

Sue Miller, Leeds, 10 February 2010