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.

Mongo Santamaria - At The Black Hawk (1962) {Fantasy}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 482 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 172 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jog) -> 26 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 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.

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
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 19 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 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.