Mambo Mongo

Mango Santamaria utilizes a colorful cast of musicians on this CD. Flutists Hubert Laws and Dave Valentin are featured on two songs apiece (although unfortunately not together) and the nonet has trumpeter Eddie Allen, altoist Jimmy Cozier, and Craig Rivers on tenor and soprano, along with three percussionists. There are a lot of percussion features including the closing nine-and-a-half minute "La Mogolla," making this an excellent if not quite essential recording.

Mango Santamaria utilizes a colorful cast of musicians on this CD. Flutists Hubert Laws and Dave Valentin are featured on two songs apiece (although unfortunately not together) and the nonet has trumpeter Eddie Allen, altoist Jimmy Cozier, and Craig Rivers on tenor and soprano, along with three percussionists. There are a lot of percussion features including the closing nine-and-a-half minute "La Mogolla," making this an excellent if not quite essential recording.

With the exception of a soulful reading of the Box Tops' "The Letter," Mongo's Way abandons the pop covers that dominated Mongo Santamaria's late-'60s dates for Columbia in favor of a more far-reaching Latin jazz sensibility shaped by elements of soul, funk and rock. Working with producer Neal Creque, as well as a superior supporting cast featuring guitarist Eric Gale, tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, and drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Santamaria creates some of his most atmospheric and eclectic music, similar in spirit and scope to the myriad blaxploitation soundtracks jamming retail bins but executed with uncommon artistry. This two-fer reissue also features Up from the Roots, an exploration of the African origins of Caribbean music that prompts Santamaria to set aside his trademark conga drums in favor of traditional African percussion instruments…

Mongo Santamaria - Mongo Introduces La Lupe (1963) {Riverside–Milestone MCD-9210-2 rel 1993}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 229 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 96 Mb
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© 1963, 1993 Riverside / Milestone / Fantasy | MCD-9210-2
Jazz / Latin Jazz / Afro-Cuban Jazz / Boogaloo

La Lupe was a popular singer in New York's Latin music scene of the 1960s. She is featured on five of the nine selections on this LP, showing lots of spirit along with an appealing voice. In addition, there are four strong instrumentals, and even the vocal pieces have spots for the instrumentalists. It is particularly interesting to hear the difference between the two trumpet players (Marty Sheller and Chocolate Armenteros), along with the fine reed solos from Pat Patrick (Sun Ra's baritonist, who was on vacation from the Arkestra at the time) and Bobby Capers, who alternate between various saxophones and flutes. An excellent set of stirring Afro-Cuban jazz.

Mongo Santamaria - At The Black Hawk (1962) {Fantasy}
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© 1962, 2006 Fantasy / Universal | 00025218243421
Jazz / Afro-Cuban Jazz / Latin Jazz / Percussion

Applying their famous two-fer philosophy to the digital era, Fantasy combines Mighty Mongo and Viva Mongo! on a single CD, showcasing two somewhat different slants on Mongo Santamaria's music during a period of exploration. Mighty Mongo leans more to Mongo's jazz side without sacrificing his Afro-Cuban rhythmic base, while Viva Mongo has a more distinctly ethnic Cuban sound with Rudy Calzado's solo vocals and the band's group chanting, Rolando Lozano's wooden flute riding playfully above the ensemble, and the traditional Cuban use of string counterlines.

Various Artists - Mambo Mania! The Kings & Queens Of Mambo (1995) {Rhino R2 71881 rec 1949-1980}
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© 1949-1980, 1995 Rhino Records | R2 71881
Jazz / Afro-Cuban / Latin Jazz / Mambo / World Fusion / Boogaloo

Mambo Mania! may not be the last word on the Afro-Cuban music of the 1950s and '60s, but for beginners, it's a darn nice place to start. Rhino can usually be counted on to do its homework when assembling compilations, and this superb 18-song CD is no exception. Serious fans of what came to be called salsa will be more than familiar with such classics as Celia Cruz's "Tumba La Cana, Jibarito," Beny More's "Me Gusta Mas El Son" and Tito Puente's "Guaguanco Margarito" – all of which are essential listening for even the most casual salseros.