Mongo Santamaria

Mongo Santamaria – Sabroso! (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · November 6, 2023 · Comments off

At the time that Sabroso was recorded, Mongo Santamaria’s group was essentially a charanga band with two trumpets added, a combination that works quite well. The group has superior playing by Jose “Chombo” Silva on both violin and tenor (helping “Para Ti” to become a classic), two little-known but talented trumpeters (Louis Valizan and Marcus Cabuto), the great flutist Rolando Lozano, pianist Rene Hernandez, bassist Victor Venegas, and Willie Bobo on drums. Pete Escovedo is one of the background singers as Rudi Calzado takes the lead on a few numbers but does not dominate. There are many fine individual moments on this joyous and infectious set.

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Mongo Santamaria – Our Man In Havana! (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · November 5, 2023 · Comments off

The two records that make up Our Man in Havana (the other date was originally called Bembe) were recorded in 1960 during a visit to Cuba by Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo. The first set is superb, featuring an unusual mixture of instruments for a Cuban band: two trumpets, flute, piano, tres (Nino Rivera), bass, timbales, bongos, guiro, conga, and two vocalists. The playing by the local musicians is of high quality, and the ten selections are quite enjoyable. Unfortunately though, that project is combined with the cuts from Bembe, which are in a very different style. The latter project has the music performed entirely by vocalists, other than the percussion of Santamaria and Bobo. Consisting of folk melodies and religious songs, with the emphasis totally on the chanting and singing, the music is intriguing from a historical standpoint but the jazz content is nil on this emotional date (which has Merceditas Valdes taking the vocal on four numbers). So, overall, this is definitely a mixed bag.

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Mongo Santamaria – Afro-Indio (1975/2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · June 22, 2023 · Comments off

Originally released in 1975, this set by master Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaria is an exercise in smooth jazz and jazz-funk. Besides its amazing cover by Ron Levine, this disc holds a special place in Santamaria’s catalog. This was the first time he was able to reach his goal of making a large band — in this case, 14 musicians — sound like an intimate combo. “Creepin” kicks it off; it’s an easy-groove number reminiscent of the Crusaders’ slippery moves at the time — think Scratch. “Funk Up,” “Mambomongo,” and “Funk Down” juxtapose Afro-beat, War-style R&B and funk, steamy salsa horns, and just a touch of Jimi Hendrix for a smokin’ raw slice of heated riffing on a theme and two variations. Drummer Bernard Purdie kept the entire band anchored, while saxophonist Justo Almario cuts a mean swathe with his solo in the middle of the track, in the heart of a horn stomp that is unequaled on any of Santamaria’s other records. There’s even a version LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade” that has a vocal chorus to back up Almario’s razored saxophone lines; with its Afro-funk backbeat and driving horn section, this one was made for the dancefloor. There is some schlock here, though, in the Joe Gallardo-arranged “Song for You” (not the Bernie Taupin/Elton John tune), a syrupy waste of time and energy with the wimpiest, most anemic flute solo ever recorded (this makes Hubert Laws’ most sentimental moments seem like the theme from Rocky). At seven-and-a-half minutes, this would have been better served on the cutting-room floor. Despite a few dumpy cuts, this one is necessary for fans of classic ’70s soul-jazz and jazz-funk; it’s also of peculiar but pointed interest to those interested in the evolution of Afro-Cuban beat science. – Thom Jurek

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Mongo Santamaria – Workin’ On a Groovy Thing (1969/2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · June 5, 2023 · Comments off

The Mongo Santamaria/Columbia formula of Top 40 tunes retrofitted with an Afro-Cuban boogaloo beat gets another hyperactive workout here. The title tune, “Spinning Wheel,” “Proud Mary,” “My Cherie Amour” and “Get Back” are among the choices here, with Sonny Fortune occasionally scorching the earth on alto sax (and probably on flute), Joe Farrell turning up on tenor, and ever-versatile Bernard “Pretty” Purdie stoking the fires alongside Mongo. Yet the band is finally beginning to show some audible weariness with the whole operation for which one cannot blame them.

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Mongo Santamaria – Workin’ On a Groovy Thing (1969/2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · June 5, 2023 · Comments off

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Mongo Santamaria – Mongomania (1967/2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · June 5, 2023 · Comments off

Ramón “Mongo” Santamaría Rodríguez was a rumba quinto master and an Afro-Cuban Latin jazz percussionist. He is most famous for being the composer of the jazz standard “Afro Blue”, recorded by John Coltrane among others. He was an integral figure in the fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms with R&B and soul, paving the way for the boogaloo era of the late 1960s. This album has been released in 1967 via Columbia Records. Heavyweight West Coast latin boogaloo/jazz album from Mongo Santamaria featuring Hubert Laws, Marty Sheller, Bobby Capers and loads more killer latin and jazz musicians.

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Mongo Santamaria – Hey! Let’s Party (1966/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · June 5, 2023 · Comments off

Percussionist Mongo Santamaria released this LP sometimes during the 60ies on Columbia Records, it was produced by Robert Mersey and arranged by Marty Sheller, among the players are Marty Sheller on trumpet, Hubert Laws on sax, Bobby Capers on sax & flutes, Carmello Garcia on timbales & drums, Rodger Grant on piano and Victor Venegas on bass.

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Mongo Santamaria – Explodes at the Village Gate (1967/2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · June 5, 2023 · Comments off

Rare live album recorded at New York’s Village Gate. Includes a 10 minute jamming version of Mongo’s classic number Afro Blue. The band include: Marty Sheller, Ray Maldonado, Rogers Grant, Bobby Capers, Hubert Laws and others. Lots of greats solos from Mongo and his band.

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Mongo Santamaria – CHANGO! (2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · June 5, 2023 · Comments off

A Mongo Santamaria concert is a mesmerizing spectacle for both eyes and ears, and even in his seventies, this seemingly ageless Cuban percussionist/bandleader could energize packed behemoth arenas such as the Hollywood Bowl. A master conguero, Santamaria at his best creates an incantatory spell rooted in Cuban religious rituals, quietly seating himself before his congas and soloing with total command over the rhythmic spaces between the beats while his band pumps out an endless vamp (a potent example on records is the hypnotic “Mazacote” available on Afro-Roots [Prestige]). He has been hugely influential as a leader, running durable bands that combine the traditional charanga with jazz-oriented brass, wind, and piano solos, featuring such future notables as Chick Corea and Hubert Laws. He also reached out into R&B, rock, and electric jazz at times in his long career. No Cuban percussionist, with the possible exception of Santana’s Armando Peraza (and let’s not count Desi Arnaz!), has reached more listeners than Mongo.

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Mongo Santamaria – All Strung Out (1970/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · June 5, 2023 · Comments off

Ramon “Mongo” Santamaria was an Afro-Cuban Latin jazz percussionist. He is most famous for being the composer of the jazz standard “Afro Blue”, recorded by John Coltrane among others. In 1950 he moved to New York where he played with Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Fania All Stars, etc. He was an integral figure in the fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms with R&B and soul, paving the way for the boogaloo era of the late 1960s. His 1963 hit rendition of Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. His album Mambo Mongo was released on Chesky Records in 1993.

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Mongo Santamaria – Live At Jazz Alley (1990) [Reissue 2003] MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

SACD / DSD By admin · May 28, 2023 · Comments off

In the late 80s and early 90s, Jazz Alley was an annual stop for Mongo Santamaria and his band. Their appearance was an event that never disappointed. Someone at Concord Jazz, Mongo’s label at the time, had the really bright idea of recording them live at that venue in March 1990. The band itself is an all-star lineup, including such luminaries as Ray Vega, Bobby Porcelli, Bob Quaranta, Johnny Almendra, Mitch Frohman, Eddie Rodriguez and Bernie Minoso.

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