Spam Allstars

Don't approach this album expecting white-hot descargas from wizards of Latin percussion. For all their individual credentials backing funk and Latin stars, these guys are guided by the acid-jazz ethos, which keeps the fire at a slow, controlled burn rather than a full-on conflagration. Seen in that light, these instrumentals -- which could come off as soggy compared to, say, anything from the Fania catalog -- are nicely executed slices of Latin jazz with helpings of James Brown on the side. It might not get your party to the sweaty, clothes-shedding level, but it'll set it on its way.