These 1962 recordings originally appeared on two LPs called Mighty Mongo and Viva Mongo!, and they capture the barely controlled excitement that Mongo Santamaria's percussion-based music can generate in a live performance. While there are jazz elements present, particularly on some of the standard repertoire like "Tenderly" and "Body and Soul," it's the Cuban elements that dominate. Merengue, mambo, guajira, and descarga rhythms are driven by congas, timbales, and the collective chanting of the band. The authenticity extends to Rolando Lozano's airy wooden flute, while tenor saxophonist Jose Silva adds jazz-based lines that are rooted deep in the rhythm. --Stuart Broomer
At the Black Hawk,Mongo Santamaria,Fantasy,Afro-Cuban Jazz,Cuban Jazz,Jazz,Latin,Latin Jazz,Latin Music
Jazz Music:
- Big Band Classics Ladies Only: Songs of 30's and 40's
- Big Band Classics Ladies Only: Songs of 40's and 50's
- Blue Suite
- But Beautiful: In Memorial
- Can't We Be Friends [Import] [Original recording remastered]
- Carmen Cavallaro Collection 1 [Import]
- Celebration
- City Life/Unfinished Business [Import]
- Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster
- Déjà Vu
Jazz Music
Back From Middle Earth [Import]
Feeling for You [CD-single] [Import]
James Brown - 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!