Search - Mongo Santamaria :: Sofrito

Well, I'm a Little Partial...

Mike DiMartino | Rochester, NY | 11/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On "Cruzan" you will hear Roger Rosenberg playing one of the greatest baritone sax solos on record (the music world just never caught on). I get a few of my best Chappottin licks in on "Sofrito" and a couple of pfluglehorn choruses on "Spring Song." Manteca is a stretch-out jam that features killer drum solos from Mongo, Steve Berrios and Mongo's hand picked percussion section. To this day, people still ask me about this award-winning session.



SOFRITO is Mongo's best from his Fania/Vaya years...well, but there's also UBANE, a true Mongo great, in the "musica typica" vein. But UBANE is no longer in print; garbage like Mongo's RED HOT is readily available, but not UBANE--which, by the way, features the venerable Santero priest Julito Collazo. You've really got to read my review of RED HOT--I was on that session too, and my review takes you into the studio on that most regrettable day and gives some insights on the UBANE session.



I'm ol' Mike DiMartino in Rochester, NY. Thanks.

"

Classic latin rhythms

Mike Patterson | El Paso, TX | 06/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Growing up in N.Y.C., you get a flavor of all types of Latin music. This is a classic. It's fresh, sultry and very jazzy. This is, without a doubt, one of the better Latin jazz classics of all time. I have it as a collectable today and it will remain a classic for many years to come. This is what I call "old school" with style. Mongo is truly an artist in every phase of music."