Mongo Returns!

Mongo Returns!
Studio album by
Mongo Santamaría
Released1995
GenreLatin jazz
LabelMilestone[1]
ProducerTodd Barkan
Mongo Santamaría chronology
Mambo Mongo
(1992) 		Mongo Returns!
(1995) 		Brazilian Sunset
(1996)

Mongo Returns! is an album by the Cuban musician Mongo Santamaría.[2][3] It was released in 1995.[4] The album marked Santamaria's return to the Fantasy Records label.[5]

Production

The album was produced by Todd Barkan.[6] Its songs were arranged by Marty Sheller.[7] Hilton Ruiz played piano on the album.[8] Eddie Allen played trumpet.[9] "Bahia" is a cover of the Ary Barroso song; "When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You" is a version of the Marvin Gaye song.[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[11]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide[6]

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called the album "marvelous Latin big band" music.[12] The Boston Herald lamented that "the band's performances rarely rise above pleasant and competent."[13] City Pages noted that, "rather than wallow in a groove, the tunes on [the] CD continually shift gears, deploying the percussionists as much for texture as for rhythm and varying the pace."[7]

The Albuquerque Journal deemed Mongo Returns! one of the best Latin jazz albums of 1995; The Chicago Citizen also listed it among the best of 1995.[14][15]

AllMusic wrote that "Mongo's large ensemble sounds sharp, at home with the Latin beat, up-to-date electronic instruments and occasional skipping bassline, and Mongo thunders away with his usual polyrhythmic vigor."[10]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."A Kiss in Her Glance" 
2."You've Got It Bad Girl" 
3."Bahia" 
4."Slyck 'n' Slyde" 
5."Song for Marilyn" 
6."When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You" 
7."Hush" 
8."Ol' School Groove" 
9."Free World Mambo" 

References

  1. ^ "Mongo Santamaría Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Birnbaum, Larry (Mar 1996). "Latin jammers". DownBeat. Vol. 63, no. 3. p. 57.
  3. ^ "Obituary: Mongo Santamaria". The Guardian. February 11, 2003.
  4. ^ Gerard, Charley (July 23, 2001). Music from Cuba: Mongo Santamaría, Chocolate Armenteros, and Cuban Musicians in the United States. Greenwood Publishing Group.
  5. ^ Lannert, John (Nov 25, 1995). "Latin Notas". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 47. p. 63.
  6. ^ a b c MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. pp. 688–689.
  7. ^ a b Robson, Britt (January 31, 1996). "Music". Culture to Go. City Pages.
  8. ^ Fernandez, Raul A. (May 23, 2006). From Afro-Cuban Rhythms to Latin Jazz. University of California Press.
  9. ^ Frank, Frederico (4 Apr 1996). "Trumpeters Take Separate Paths". News. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 6.
  10. ^ a b "Mongo Santamaría Mongo Returns!". AllMusic.
  11. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 251.
  12. ^ Spore, Keith (5 Feb 1996). "About Jazz". Cue & Health. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 3.
  13. ^ Pekar, Harvey (December 31, 1995). "Afro-Cuban music spices CDs". Arts & Lifestyle. Boston Herald. p. 48.
  14. ^ Steinberg, David (7 Jan 1996). "Jazz Elevated to New Heights, Old Standards in '95". Albuquerque Journal. p. D1.
  15. ^ Emenari, L.A. (28 Dec 1995). "The Best of Jazz '95". Chicago Citizen. Vol. 30, no. 37. p. 21.