Mongo Santamaria – Our Man In Havana! (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Mongo Santamaria – Our Man In Havana! (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:13:52 minutes | 903 MB | Genre: Jazz, Latin Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © RevOla

The two records that make up Our Man in Havana (the other date was originally called Bembe) were recorded in 1960 during a visit to Cuba by Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo. The first set is superb, featuring an unusual mixture of instruments for a Cuban band: two trumpets, flute, piano, tres (Nino Rivera), bass, timbales, bongos, guiro, conga, and two vocalists. The playing by the local musicians is of high quality, and the ten selections are quite enjoyable. Unfortunately though, that project is combined with the cuts from Bembe, which are in a very different style. The latter project has the music performed entirely by vocalists, other than the percussion of Santamaria and Bobo. Consisting of folk melodies and religious songs, with the emphasis totally on the chanting and singing, the music is intriguing from a historical standpoint but the jazz content is nil on this emotional date (which has Merceditas Valdes taking the vocal on four numbers). So, overall, this is definitely a mixed bag.

Tracklist:
01. Mongo Santamaria – Jamaicuba (remastered) (03:30)
02. Mongo Santamaria – Manila (remastered) (04:44)
03. Mongo Santamaria – He Guapacha (remastered) (04:10)
04. Mongo Santamaria – Cha Cha Rock (remastered) (03:49)
05. Mongo Santamaria – Vengan Pollos (remastered) (05:01)
06. Mongo Santamaria – Barandanga (remastered) (03:18)
07. Mongo Santamaria – Linda Guajira (remastered) (03:05)
08. Mongo Santamaria – Vamos A Gozar (remastered) (02:36)
09. Mongo Santamaria – Miss Patti Cha Cha (remastered) (04:18)
10. Mongo Santamaria – Viva La Felicidad (remastered) (02:33)
11. Mongo Santamaria – Tele Mina for Chango (remastered) (03:01)
12. Mongo Santamaria – Olla De For Olla (remastered) (03:50)
13. Mongo Santamaria – Yemaya Olodo For Olla (remastered) (03:39)
14. Mongo Santamaria – Yeye-o for Ochun (remastered) (04:12)
15. Mongo Santamaria – Wolenche For Chango (remastered) (02:47)
16. Mongo Santamaria – Aqua Limpia (remastered) (03:39)
17. Mongo Santamaria – Ochun Mene (remastered) (04:13)
18. Mongo Santamaria – Mexico (Guaguanco) (remastered) (03:22)
19. Mongo Santamaria – Manana Son Manana (remastered) (04:08)
20. Mongo Santamaria – Complicaciones (remastered) (03:49)

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