By Walter Price

I have no authority to come up with a "best of " list since I attain my CDs the old fashion way-I buy them. Even though I have invested a substantial portion of my retirement money to my habit, I probably only heard about 2% of what is out there. All my favorites or disappointments I can honestly tell you I have listened to three or more times in different settings (during work, relaxing, while on the computer, etc.).

My "100 star guarantee you should add this to your collection CD" is: Sabroso! - The Afro-Latin Groove. Even though this is a compilation of older music, it is just golden. If you like jazz, salsa, mambo or just music, invest in this CD. This grooves from cut 1 to 18. Artists like Willie Bobo, Ocho, Tito Puente, Joe Cuba, Cal Tjader just smoke on this CD. The people at Rhino deserve an award for putting this one together!

All the runner ups:

• Undercover-Tim Weisberg (what a grooving contemporary CD for this flutist)
• Dancemania- Live at Birdland-Tito Puente (it looks like Mr. Puente will have to pass away before he gets his due jazz accolades! by the way get his 3CD boxed set)
• Live & More-Marcus Miller (the musical genius that can throw down on the bass)
• What Did He Say-Victor Wooten (Wooten is by far the sickest bass player around! This CD doesn't contain a lot of bass jamming but it contains some fun, original, subdued tunes)
• Where We Come From-Vital Information (I have always liked Steve Smith's work, try to get hold of Vital's Celebration record as well)
• A Go Go-John Scofield and three other guys (skip Combustication, except for cut 5) and get the MM&W work with Sco, check out Modeski's work on Javon Jackson's Good People)
• Return of the Headhunters (Paul Jackson and Mike Clark just work it, I wish they could be in everybody's band)
• In Carterian Fashion-James Carter (Carter, Gary Thomas, Javon Jackson, Kenny Garrett-always interested in what they put out)

• Eric Essix-he put out a decent CD-Small Talk and I think he has some major chops.
• Eddie Minnifield or Eddie M.-former horn player of Sheila E. and that symbol guy. His Ward Street was a disappointment, but please Eddie put our more music and don't worry about the covers and just blow!

• Bitches Brew-Miles Davis (put on the headphones and crank up "Spanish Key"-you will never hear music like this again-guaranteed!)

Don't Bother-"How much store credit can I get for these used CDs?":

• Blue Touch-Greg Karukas (some hack said this was a grooving CD, I've listened to it several times-where's the groove?)
• 4-Fourplay-(How smooth is smooth?)

The best record label around that will not get any props from jazz rats:

32jazz-What a concept-reissue some great jazz music, package it lightly-no frills (no "lost" or "never before seen" photos, no claims to gold, silver 62 bit sound, no long winded liner notes), and get this- sell it at an honest price! I have several 32jazz CDs-all of them are great musically and I still have change in my pocket! Check out their sampler Jazz for the Open Road- guaranteed worth your money!