Ricky Martin Live: Black and White Tour (CD - 2007)

Personnel: David Cabrera (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, cuatro, keyboards); Juan "Cheo" Quiones (vocals, trumpet, percussion); Ron Dziubla (guitar, saxophone, keyboards); R.J. Ronquillo (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin); Christian Nieves (cuatro); Phil McArthur (cello, bass guitar); Victor Vazquez (trombone, keyboards, percussion); Ben Stivers (keyboards); Waldo Madera (drums); Daniel Lopez (percussion); Carlos David Pérez, Jackie Mendez (background vocals).

Additional personnel: La Mari.

Ricky Martin released his first live disc in 2006 with MTV UNPLUGGED. The album showed Martin to be a polished live performer capable of leading his tight band through powerfully energetic performances that outpaced his studio recordings. Martin must have known he was onto a good thing, because he released another live set in 2007.

BLACK AND WHITE TOUR doesn't have the same stripped-down quality of the MTV date, but it is still powered by an immediacy and a forcefulness that are very impressive. Again, Martin's band is top-notch, and there's no shortage of sparks flying on both the straightforward Latin grooves and the more streamlined dance-pop. "Vuelve" and "Tu Recuerdo" are here, as is, of course, "Livin' La Vida Loca." minimize