• Artist: Mongo Santamaria
• Flags: Instrumental
• Rating:
• Styles: Cuban Jazz, Afro-Cuban Jazz, Latin Jazz
• Similar Albums: Latin on Impulse, Imagine, Heroes, Live at the Village Gate, Strut, Rumba Para Monk, Goza Mi Timbal, Un Poco Loco, Sensacion, Salsa Meets Jazz

Review

Since 1962, Mongo Santamaria has led a series of top Afro-Cuban Latin jazz bands that effectively combine Cuban rhythms with bop-oriented jazz solos. Santamaria had a new horn section at the time of this 1988 recording (reissued on CD) that consisted of trumpeter Ray Vega, altoist Bobby Porcelli (also heard on baritone and flute) and tenor saxophonist Mitch Frohman. The octet also includes three percussionists, with Mongo on congas and bongos. The band mostly sticks to group originals, with a major exception being the Lennon/McCartney song "Day Tripper," which is turned into heated Latin jazz. An enjoyable set filled with spirited performances. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
Soca Mi Nice		William Allen	Mongo Santamaria	(5:14)
Day Tripper		John Lennon, Paul McCartney	Mongo Santamaria	(5:24)
Kathy's Waltz	...		Mongo Santamaria	(7:40)
Tropical Breeze		Ray Martinez	Mongo Santamaria	(4:03)
Cu-Bop Alert	...	Ray Vega	Mongo Santamaria	(5:10)
Quiet Fire		William Allen	Mongo Santamaria	(4:57)
Cookie	...	Ray Vega	Mongo Santamaria	(5:34)
Con Mi Ritmo	...	Ray Martinez	Mongo Santamaria	(6:32)

Credits

Marty Sheller (Conductor), Marty Sheller, Elizabeth Bell (Production Coordination), Phil Edwards (Remix Engineer), Paul Francis (Art Direction), Mitch Frohman (Flute), Mitch Frohman (Sax (Tenor)), Mitch Frohman, Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez (Percussion), Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez (Bongos), Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez (Drums), Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez (Timbales), Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez (Vocals), Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez (Chekere), Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez, Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez (Cowbell), Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez (Guiro), Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez (Bata Drums), George Horn (Mastering), Ray Martinex (Bass), Ray Martinez, Angelo-Mark Pagen (Vocals (Background)), Angelo-Mark Pagen, Bobby Porcelli (Flute), Bobby Porcelli (Sax (Alto)), Bobby Porcelli (Sax (Baritone)), Bobby Porcelli, Bob Quaranta (Piano), Bob Quaranta, Mongo Santamaria (Bongos), Mongo Santamaria (Conga), Mongo Santamaria (Main Performer), Raymond Vega (Trumpet), Raymond Vega (Flugelhorn), Jim Hilson (Assistant Engineer), David Lubarsky (Photography), Ray Vega, Johnny Almendra (Drums), Johnny Almendra (Timbales), Johnny Almendra