The reigning superstars of Latin percussion， Conga Kings Candido Camero， Carlos "Patato" Valdes and Giovanni Hidalgo， have collectively worked with everybody from Tito Puente to Dizzy Gillespie. <I>Jazz Descargas</I> finds the trio performing Latin and jazz classics in the descarga format: a type of Cuban jam and improvisation session. With the zesty arrangements of ex-Machito arranger Ray Santos， the congueros--along with guests， alto saxophonist Phil Woods， salsa trombonist Jimmy Bosch and trumpeter Chocolate--turn classic tracks like Bud Powell's "Un Poco Loco"， Dizzy Gillespie's "Night in Tunisia" and the Duke Ellington/Juan Tizol number "Caravan" into fast and folkloric showstoppers. On "Conga Descarga" the players engage in a heavy percussion discussion that illustrates the jaw-dropping power of Afro-Cuban music. <I>--Eugene Holley， Jr.</I>