Soul Of The Conga

Amazon.com For his 20th (!) Concord album and follow-up to his Grammy-winning Latin Soul, master conguero Poncho Sanchez takes cues from the Buena Vista Social Club and some homegrown Philly organ soul. Sanchez's music is traditional, but infused with creative brass arrangements, simmering rhythms, and explosive percussion, and his mambos and montunos are impossible to resist. With organist Joey DeFrancesco, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, and traditional Cuban vocal troupe The Ortiz Brothers, Soul of the Conga is full-on funky, with popping rhythms and meaty solo excursions. DeFrancesco boils on "Moon Pie," which recalls Eddie Harris, and you'll find the dance floor irresistible when "Haitian Lady" kicks in. The Ortiz Brothers get busy on the fragrant "Asi Asi," the "Oye Como Va"-ish groove of "Oye Lo," and the organ-brass mix of fantasy and melancholia on "Virtue." Throughout, Sanchez's horn arrangements keep everything cooking, like spicy sauce over a percolating percussion barbecue. Alas, Blanchard's lovely brass teases on "Stella on Starlight" do nothing for the album's one dud, which sounds lifeless, airless, and oddly grooveless. But that is a rare moment on a brilliant album, which closes with the heavy conga-bongo jamming of "Rumba De Po-Tiz." Outstanding! --Ken Micallef Product description International products have separate terms, are sold from abroad and may differ from local products, including fit, age ratings, and language of product, labeling or instructions. Review Conga king Poncho Sanchez's sequel to his Grammy Award-winning Latin Soul presents further percussive explorations in his patented Latin funk-and-soul vein. Sanchez, a Texas native, embraces the hybrid character of U.S. Latin music, combining jazz and popular strains with Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican influences. Self-taught on conga, Sanchez broke into the California Latin music scene with Cal Tjader in 1975, playing with the vibraphone innovator until his death in 1982. Soul Of The Conga presents the longstanding Sanchez ensemble, augmented by the sizzling, soulful Hammond B-3 organ of guest Joey DeFrancesco, the Cuban flavor of the four Ortiz Brothers (aka Son Mayor), and jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard (with a smoky take on Stella By Starlight). Other notable numbers include Sanchez's smoldering vocals on the romantic Cosas Del Alma, a chang|i-flavored Fania Fungue, and four tracks marked by the inimitable DeFrancesco organ groove: Moon Pie (a nod to the nonpareil saxophone soul of late great Eddie Harris), Haitian Lady (echoing John Coltrane's Impressions, with some beautiful muted trumpet), the trombone-driven Virtue, and an infectious boogaloo, Bodacious Q. -Michael Stone -- From Rhythm Magazine
ASIN: B00004XN1B
VSKU: DBV.B00004XN1B.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Poncho Sanchez
Binding: Audio cd
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Condition Notes: Individually inspected: Guaranteed to play perfectly or your money back. Case may show wear and may be in library packaging. Ships Fast!