Customer Reviews

Afro Roots

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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

Anyone, and I mean ANYONE (especially if you're born in the late seventies/early eighties like myself) that is a jazz fanatic and has delved into the world of latin/jazz fusion MUST go back to this album. I am a Mongo Santamaria fan, I don't think that it was/is even possible for an album of his to be produced that's sub-par. This particular album contains one of the must have versions of the classic and frequently re-produced song, "Afro-Blue." You have to own this album and listen to see exactly why the likes of Coltrane and others just had to pay tribute to this classic.

I just bought the CD reissue of this: I've had the vinyl version since the '70's. It's an indispensible recording of percussion virtuousity, and since it's mostly drums (except for the work by Cal Tjader and Paul Horn) it gives Mongo plenty of room to stretch out. Plus it's like a textbook of Afro-Cuban rhythms: rhumba, guaguanco, congobel, etc.

There may be some "spiritual" overtones to the drumming (like there is in almost any music), but I'd say it's mostly secular music intended to let Mongo and his mates tear it up. If you want more specifically religious Cuban drumming, try Milton Cardona's "Bembe", which is Santeria ceremonial bata drumming.

This is a great CD that showcases some different styles of Afro-Cuban music. This is the African roots of Cuban music and the foundations that Latin Jazz is built on. Mongo Santamaria is a master percussionist and his playing will move you, it will move you physically and stir your soul!

one of 3 cd's of my very first amazon purchase, it deserves a review (and an enthusiastic one, at that).
i have many mongo's albums and on some (our man in havana and from the roots, for example) the great don ramon explore his afro-cuban heritage for about twenty minutes (an lp side) and then moves to his trademark afro-cuban jazz more palatable to internation ears.
but here you have about 80 minutes of pure roots and culture: bembes, rumbas et al at the very best.
no drummer (and serious music lover) should be without this gem in his/her collection.
mongo still reigns supreme!

Well to be honest this cd wasn't what I thought it was going to be when I purchased it. I was looking for something mello, with cool jazzy sounds, like Mongo's other stuff, to my suprise this cd gave me a trip to AFRICA. It was filled with beautiful dropplets of all kinds of drums, "AFRO BLUE" blew me away, that song is my favorite hands down. I would encourage anyone to buy this cd, who's into congos and a sweet trip to AFRICA.

Esta grabación realizada en 1959 es realmente magistral en la manera que este gran percusionista cubano expresa el ritmo con fuerza, exactitud, y personalidad. Son 21 temas de puro ritmo y sabor donde intervienen en alguno de ellos leyendas del jazz como Paul Horn en la flauta, Cal Tjader en el vibráfono o Vince Guiraldi en el piano.
Esta selección de temas inspirados en los ritmos originales del África, nos invaden en la mente y la sangre como una experiencia casi religiosa. Una remasterización realizada por Joe Tarantino realmente extraordinaria de dos lp's legendarios: "Mongo" y "Yambu".

This is a very hot very African selection of songs from a young Mongo Santamaria which influenced a lot of young Americans in its day and still sounds great