Saturday, June 20, 2009

Mongo Santamaria - "Drums and Chants" (1978)




A new vinyl rip by reader Rowan, donated to the ongoing Mongo Santamaria discography.

This album, containing some of Mongo's earliest recordings a leader/percussionist, was first released as "Changó" in 1955 on Tico Records. Vaya Records re-released the recordings in 1978 as "Drums and Chants", from which this rip comes. Later it was also compiled on an album named "Mongo Santamaria and his Afro-Cuban Beaters".

Here's Thom Jurek from AMG :

"Whatever possessed Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaria to release this recording of traditional chants and drumming modes from the various traditions of the Afro-Cuban experience reinvented him not only for his own people, but for the legions of Americanskis who only knew him as the cat who did the Latinized soul-jazz version of Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man," which became a pop hit.

Here, Santamaria enlisted the help of Carlos "Potato" Valdes, Antar Daly, Silvestre Mendez, and Julio Collazo in a burning collection of rhythms and call-and-response chants from the various traditions that make up the island's roots music -- Yoruba, Lucumi, Dahomeyanos, Carabalies, and the Congos -- all of whom originated in the river region of Niger before they crossed the Atlantic.

In each case, the listener is treated to a fantastically complex recorded example of rhythms and then chanted information that accompanies them: harvest songs, traveling songs, songs of sorrow, songs of mating, and more. Occasionally, as on "Margarito", a wooden flute accompanies the song, and in the case of "Congo Mania", a trumpet does the same thing. There are numerous drums employed to both solo and "choir" effect like the batas, bembe, congos, quinto, and more.

This is deep Afro-Cuban music from the heart of the Niger region, crossing the ocean with blood, sweat, and tears and finally taking root in the land of sugar cane. There are stories and legends in these tracks -- they are as authentic and raw as it gets."


Please thank Rowan for ripping this for us.

DOWNLOAD


35 comments:

  1. It's a pleasure to finally be able to contribute Simon - you're a true gentleman of the blogs!

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  2. Thanks for this. I really like some of Mongo's other more "roots music" recordings so I look forward to this one.

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  3. many thanks Rowan - this looks awesome!

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  4. This is brilliant, thank you! I have two of Mongo's old albums that feature traditional rhythms ("Yambu" and "Mongo"), but was unaware of this one until now.

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  5. what can i say A BIG THANKYOU for this extremely awesome download of Roots Music.

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  6. Thanks for the comments guys :)

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  7. Rowan - thanks for your contribution. Helped get my Sunday off on a great note (pun intended).

    Peace.

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  8. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
    I LIKE MONGO

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  9. soy admirador de mongo santamariadesde mi pais es muy dificil conseguir material de este artista, podria desdcargar este album. desde ya muchas gracias...

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  10. gracias por mongo¡¡¡

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  11. gracias por mongo¡¡¡

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  12. awesome album as always, thanks! there's a lot more to Mongo's records than i used to think.

    also, just wondering if anybody has anything by Cortex ("Tropeau Bleu" or "Volume 2")...heard they're great.

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  13. Thanks to all those involved in ripping and putting this up!

    Looking forward to discovering yet another 'new' artist.

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  14. I'm deep into latin things right now, you cound not have posted better stuff

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  15. Glad we got you at the right time Vesper, check out the Mongo and also Eddie Palmieri discographies here, so much good and varied latin between them :)

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  16. Hi Simon,

    I'm not into latin my friend, so this is great for my education on the genre! High Quality post as usual! Thank you for being around. Bless you.

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  17. Thanks for the heads up on this guy. It's great when you find out about someone that you've never heard of, not even seen his name on a sleeve or ion a book!

    Great stream, keep up the good work, especially the out of print gems...

    Jazzy JB

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  18. if santeria was gospel then this church would be smoking...

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  19. Thanks for the rip!

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  20. Hi,
    Just stumbled across your blog via Orgy In Rhythm - splendid stuff. Looking forward to blasting the inner burbs of Sydney with some of Mongo's finest beats.


    Jason

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  21. My man Mongo......my best friend's mother played it for us when we were barely teens. I fell for him immediately. And it was his more pop stuff. Later explored the real sound of Mongo Santamaria. So I have lots of his works, but wow, you're bringing more to the table. Going straight to the discography. And Eddie Palmieri - bring it on and let's all dance!!!

    Thank you.

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  22. I'm thrilled, and deeply appreciative, Rowan, for the time you took to share your vinyl...and to you, too, Simon!

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  23. Where are you, Simon...?
    Burkhard

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  24. Thank you both, Rowan & Simon.

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  25. Thank you Rowan for the wonderful Mongo! And Simon for this fantastic blog.

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  26. Un saludo

    http://siserompesecompone.blogspot.com/2010/02/mongo-santamaria-mongos-wayup-from.html

    http://siserompesecompone.blogspot.com/2008/10/mongo-santamaria-sabroso-1959.html

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  27. http://siserompesecompone.blogspot.com/2010/02/mongo-santamaria-sofrito-1976.html

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  28. New post and rip of "Mongo Magic" (1983)

    http://neverenoughrhodes.blogspot.com/2010/05/mongo-santamaria-mongo-magic-1983.html

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  29. how amazing is this! thank you so much for this site and this addition.

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  30. Amazing material you have here. Thank you for spreading the good word on ALL of this five star music.

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