Puente taught the young Gibbons the essential Latin rhythms via conga, bongo, maracas and, most importantly, timbales. "Banging away on 'em came back like riding on a lost bicycle," says Gibbons.

Produced by Gibbons and Joe Hardy and recorded in Houston, Los Angeles, Austin and Pontevedra, Spain, "Perfectamundo" was sparked by an invitation to perform at the 2014 Havana Jazz Festival, delivered by his Argentine-born, Puerto Rico-raised friend and musical collaborator Martin Guigui. Gibbons was unable to attend, but the concept inspired the ZZ Top guitarist to begin work in his Houston studio.