Afro Roots

Mongo Santamaria | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 11, 1989)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Prestige
• ASIN: B000000ZCW
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,362 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #56 in Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > General AAS
  • #57 in Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the "must have" recordings for percussionst and amate, September 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Afro Roots (Audio CD)

I've listened to this recording for more than 20 years (vinyl, or course) and use it as a reference when I teach conga and African American drum. This is Mongo straight off the island, still full of his homeland, and absorbing U.S. jazz. The drums sound like rocks! compared to today's fiberglas instruments, but the tuning's impeccable, and the music (and singing) is hot! It's a must for any serious Cubo-phile, or hand drum person.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Afro-Cuban rhythm in its purest form., November 18, 1998

By 

Bill Andrejko (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Afro Roots (Audio CD)

For anyone who's ever touched a drum or been touched by the pure rhythmic magic of the Afro-Cuban tradition, this recording is a MUST have. Along with Mongo on these historic recordings are Willie Bobo and Armando Peraza, a trio of masters of this musical language. You won't hear this music played on any smooth-jazz-dreck station. These wonderful recordings have their roots in the Yoruban religous ceremonies. This is as real as it gets.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mongo (The Master Conguero) music will live for ever!, September 14, 2004

By 

Oswald Placeres "Mr. Pleasures" (The Balkans) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Afro Roots (Audio CD)

I was so glad to see this CD available that I had to buy it. To me he was and still is the best conga player of all times. I had the pleasure to meet him in person back in 1980 at the Miami Metro Zoo Jazz concert, and was able to get from him his autograph. I still have it with some pictures that were taken during the concert.
I have the original vinyl (1970) double album. However, apparently who ever made the recording did not include one of the best sons that is in the vinyl double album, and that is: "Mi Guaguanco" an excellent recording of the traditional Afro- Cuban sound that was left out because of budget and time availability; come on give me a break! That is a sorry ass excuse. I would have preferred to eliminate the Mazacote song instead. After all Mazacote is included in other albums too! My opinion is that if you are going to do some thing do it right! Shame on you for not including all of the great works of the best congero that ever lived! That is why I gave it a (4) rating, apart from that the CD is a good investment like all the other recordings from this Master Conguero. It's a must to have for your conga collection. I hope someday they will make a compilation of all his recordings and "Mi Guaguanco" will be included. Buy it you will not regret it. Mongo may you R.I.P