Barretto played with Charlie Parker, José Curbelo and (for four years) Tito Puente. His debut on Fania records, it’s a great boogaloo recording bringing latin jazz to rhythm & blues. “Deeper Shade of Soul” was sampled by Urban Dance Squad on their debut single back in 1990.

My copy is the 2023 Vinyl Me Please Essentials release from Craft – an excellent pressing and package which reproduces the original Fania label. It’s on what they call “orange smoke” vinyl and includes a listening notes booklet by Gary Suarez and a print by Clay Conder.