MONGO SANTAMARIA - Mongo Introduces La Lupe (1963-1993) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

La Lupe was a popular singer in New York's Latin music scene of the 1960s. She is featured on five of the nine selections on this LP, showing lots of spirit along with an appealing voice. In addition, there are four strong instrumentals, and even the vocal pieces have spots for the instrumentalists. It is particularly interesting to hear the difference between the two trumpet players (Marty Sheller and Chocolate Armenteros), along with the fine reed solos from Pat Patrick (Sun Ra's baritonist, who was on vacation from the Arkestra at the time) and Bobby Capers, who alternate between various saxophones and flutes. An excellent set of stirring Afro-Cuban jazz. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Besito Pa Ti 4:41
Mongo Santamaria
2    Kiniqua 4:19
Antar Daly
3    Canta Bajo 3:35
Pat Patrick
4    Uncle Calypso 3:28
Armando Peraza
5    Montuneando 4:00
Rene Hernandez / Mongo Santamaria
6    Que Lindas Son 4:39
Mongo Santamaria
7    Oye Este Guaguanco 2:46
Mongo Santamaria
8    Este Mambo (This Is My Mambo) 4:39
Rene Hernandez
9    Quiet Stroll 7:58
Pat Patrick
Credits :
Bass – Victor Venegas
Bongos, Congas – Mongo Santamaria
Flute – Bobby Capers, Pat Patrick
Percussion – Frank Valerino, Kako, Osvaldo Martinez
Piano – Rene Hernandez, Rodgers Grant
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Remastered By – Phil De Lancie
Saxophone – Bobby Capers, Pat Patrick
Trumpet – "Chocolate" Armenteros (tracks: 5, 6), Marty Sheller
Vocals – La Lupe 

MONGO SANTAMARIA - Red Hot (1979-1997) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In reaching for another shot at the big time, Mongo Santamaria sold much of the heart out of his music by turning himself over to producer Bob James, his arranger Jay Chattaway, and the fading disco fad. The result is a near disaster, an overproduced, overdubbed, rhythmically overbearing affair, staffed largely by James and his family of New York session players (including the Brecker Brothers, Eric Gale, and Steve Gadd) with only a handful of Mongo's sidemen, polished to a slick fare-thee-well. "You Better Believe It" is the sole Marty Sheller-arranged track; despite the Anglo-sounding chorus, the Guajiro groove conquers the production. Mongo alumni Hubert Laws has some nice moments in the Brazil-flavored "Sambita," but when you hear "Watermelon Man" redone to a horrible disco beat ... goodbye. by Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist :
1     Watermelon Man 6:34
Arranged By, Conductor – Jay Chattaway
Backing Vocals – Brenda Frazier, Gwen Guthrie, Vivian Cherry
Bass – Gary King
Congas, Bongos, Solo Vocal – Mongo Santamaria
Drums – Jimmy Young
Featuring, Vocals – La Lupe
Guitar – Jeff Layton, Lance Quinn
Percussion – Jimmy Maelen
Piano, Synthesizer [Oberhieim] – Bob James
Tenor Saxophone, Soloist, Backing Vocals – Mike Brecker
Trumpet, Backing Vocals – Randy Brecker
Written-By – H. Hancock
2     A Mi No Me Enganan (You Better Believe It) 4:40
Arranged By, Conductor – Marty Sheller
Bass – Sal Cuevas
Congas, Percussion – Mongo Santamaria
Lyrics By – M. Santamaria
Music By – T. Guerra
Piano – Charlie Palmieri
Timbales, Drums – Steve Berrios
Tres – Harry Vigiano
Vocals – Brenda Frazier, Frank Floyd, Gwen Guthrie, Hector Aponte, Raymond Simpson, Vivian Cherry, Zach Sanders
3     Jai Alai (Rena) 7:38
Arranged By, Conductor – Jay Chattaway
Bass – Gary King
Congas, Soloist – Mongo Santamaria
Drums – Steve Berrios
Guitar – Eric Gale
Guitar, Soloist – Jeff Layton
Other [Electric Balls] – Bob James
Synthesizer [Mini Moog], Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Barry Miles
Trumpet, Soloist – Jon Faddis
Written-By – G. King    
4     Jamaican Sunrise 5:54
Arranged By, Conductor – Jay Chattaway
Bass – Gary King
Bongos – Mongo Santamaria
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Flute – Doug Harris
Guitar – Eric Gale
Percussion – Jimmy Maelen
Piano – Barry Miles
Written-By – D. Harris
5     Afro-Cuban Fantasy 7:36
Arranged By, Conductor – Jay Chattaway
Bata – Hector Hernandez, Julio Collazo
Bata, Percussion [Guataca] – Mongo Santamaria
Bata, Shekere – Steve Berrios
Drums – Steve Gadd
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Electronic Drums [Electric Log Drums] – Bob James
Guitar – Eric Gale
Soprano Saxophone, Soloist – Mark Colby
Written-By – J. Chattaway
6     Sambita 5:45
Justo Almario
Arranged By, Conductor – Jay Chattaway
Bass – Lee Smith
Congas, Bongos, Soloist – Mongo Santamaria
Drums, Percussion – Thelmo Porto
Flute – Hubert Laws
Guitar – Eric Gale
Piano – Bill O'Connell
Written-By – J. Gellardo, J. Almario