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

Mongo Santamaria – Afro-Indio (1975/2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 50:22 minutes | 1,85 GB | Genre: Pop, Latin
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Craft Recordings

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

Tracklist:
1-01. Mongo Santamaria – Creepin’ (04:09)
1-02. Mongo Santamaria – Funk Up (03:18)
1-03. Mongo Santamaria – Mambomongo (05:58)
1-04. Mongo Santamaria – Funk Down (03:26)
1-05. Mongo Santamaria – Los Indios (07:25)
1-06. Mongo Santamaria – Lady Marmalade (03:16)
1-07. Mongo Santamaria – The Promised Land (06:49)
1-08. Mongo Santamaria – What You Don’t Know (04:21)
1-09. Mongo Santamaria – Song For You (07:30)
1-10. Mongo Santamaria – Midnight And You (04:06)

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