The merging of some of Latin music’s most funky, earthy rhythmic styles—the cha cha cha and guajira—with the lively colors of jazz harmony and improvisation, make for some of the most colorful music in the Latin jazz spectrum…and some of the most fun and irresistibly danceable music at that. From Poncho Sanchez’s invitation to party with his cha cha-infused version of “One Mint Julep” to Tito Puente’s timeless hit “Oye Como Va,” from Mongo Santamaria’s incessantly grooving cover of the Beatles’ “Day Tripper” to Caribbean Jazz Project’s inventive morphing of cha cha rhythms in 5/4 time on “Tell Me a Bedtime Story,” this cherry-picked set of soulful cha cha cha and funky guajira belongs in any feel-good music collection.