MONGO SANTAMARIA - At The Black Hawk (1962-1994) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Applying their famous two-fer philosophy to the digital era, Fantasy combines Mighty Mongo and Viva Mongo! on a single CD, showcasing two somewhat different slants on Mongo Santamaria's music during a period of exploration. Mighty Mongo leans more to Mongo's jazz side without sacrificing his Afro-Cuban rhythmic base, while Viva Mongo has a more distinctly ethnic Cuban sound with Rudy Calzado's solo vocals and the band's group chanting, Rolando Lozano's wooden flute riding playfully above the ensemble, and the traditional Cuban use of string counterlines. On Mighty Mongo, "Descarga at the Black Hawk" sets an especially tasty groove, with some timbales/congas/cymbals action on an extended vamp. Lozano shines in an extended flute solo on "Bacoso" before a scorcher of a percussion battle develops, while composer/pianist Joao Donato also doubles on trombone on "Sabor." Viva Mongo's highlights include "Las Guajiras," a relaxed spellbinder at a guajira tempo; "Merengue Changa," a stupefying merger of two different rhythmic feelings; and the appropriately titled "Mambo Terrifico." Jose "Chombo" Silva, the Cuban Stan Getz worshipper who also evokes Coleman Hawkins on occasion, careens pleasingly on both albums. Of the two, Viva Mongo is perhaps the more vital record, but it's a close call; both are vibrant expressions of Mongo's art. by Richard S. Ginell  
Tracklist :
1    Bluchanga 8:00
João Donato
2    Tenderly 4:04
Walter Gross / Jack Lawrence
3    Descarga at the Black Hawk 7:30
João Donato
4    Bacoso 8:54
Rolando Lozano / Cuco Martinez / Victor Venegas
5    Sabor 4:05
João Donato
6    All the Things You Are 4:57
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
7    Pachanga Twist 3:27
Mongo Santamaria
8    Las Guajiras 7:47
Mongo Santamaria
9    Para Ti 3:04
Mongo Santamaria
10    Body and Soul 5:40
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
11    Merengue Changa 3:48
Isaac Irzarry
12    Dulce Sueño 2:38
Jose Lozano
13    Mambo Terrifico 2:54
Jose Lozano
14    Close Your Eyes 5:43
Bernice Petkere
Credits :
Baritone Saxophone – Pat Patrick (tracks: 9)
Bass – Victor Venegas
Congas, Bongos – Mongo Santamaria
Flute – Rolando Lozano
Lead Vocals – Rudy Calzado
Percussion – Julito Collazo, Cuco Martinez (tracks: 7 to 14)
Piano – Rene "El Latigo" Hernandez (tracks: 7 to 14)
Piano, Trombone – João Donato
Tenor Saxophone, Violin – Jose "Chombo" Silva (tracks: 7 to 14)
Timbales – Cuco Martinez (tracks: 1 to 6), Willie Bobo
Violin – Pupi Legarreta