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Dave Brubeck is the kind of music legend who can pack Confederation Park on a chilly Saturday night and spark an impromptu and lengthy standing ovation the moment he strolls out onto the Ottawa Jazz Festival's stage.

Edmonton-based Latin jazz outfit !Bomba!, the talented main stage opening sextet performed brilliantly despite a piercing setting sun. The group formed when !Bomba!'s founders, percussionist Mario Allende, bassist Rubim de Toledo and pianist Christ Andrew invited along three major Cuban musicians, Emilio Rios (vocals and guitar), Aldo Aquirrer (violin) and Raul Gomez Tabera on drums and timbales.

Last night they displayed a musical style that veered between bossa nova, cha cha and even the tango, combining whimsical arrangements with a peppy sound.

Spirited original

The group is largely instrumental, though they brought guest singer Luisito Orbegoso along to fill in on vocals for part of the hour-and-15 minute show.

As conga player Allende pointed out, !Bomba! was due to perform at last year's festival, but was grounded by lightning in Toronto. With a tornado in the Winnipeg area yesterday, two of their members just skated into town in time for their inaugural performance last night. And a good thing too.

With mostly original songs by Andrew and Rios, the group was an early-evening delight through to their spirited, timely closer Si, Canada.