JAZZ/POP/ROCK

Tito Puente and His Latin Ensemble: ``Mambo Diablo.'' (Concord Picante CJP-283) -- This is the third Concord Picante album for ``El Rei,'' the king of Latin music. Like the others, it features his eight-piece Latin jazz ensemble on some ``salsified'' versions of jazz standards (Strayhorn's ``Lush Life,'' Paul Desmond's ``Take Five,'' Jerome Kern's ``Pick Yourself Up,'' etc.), plus some originals and jazz tunes. It's a happy album and, especially on the standards, a nice change from the usual swing or ballad approach. Puente turn s in some decent work on the vibes, and the band boasts some fine jazz soloists. He has taken ``Take Five'' and turned it inside out. Originally written in 5/4 time, (hence its title), it appears here with a syncopated 4/4 Latin beat and a dandy call-and-response patter between the reeds and brass. Pianist George Shearing joins the band on his own composition, ``Lullaby of Birdland'' -- it's the first time together for Shearing and Puente.