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

From Rhythm Magazine
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

Tracks:

Joseito
Oye Lo
Venga A Bailar Bailadores (Changui)
Moon Pie
Haitian Lady
Cosas Del Alma
Nengon
Virtue
Days Of Wine And Roses
Fania Fungue (Co Co)
Stella By Starlight
Bodacious Q
Asi Asi
Rumba De Po-Tiz

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

Customer Reviews:

Truly a Mixed Bag.......2006-02-02

I bought this CD several years ago after enjoying Sanchez' magnificent Afro-Cuban Fantasy. I did not like Soul of the Conga as much as the other, so this languished on my shelf until recently when I decided to give it another shot.
My small complaint is that there is too much "jungle boogie" here. Maybe its a little more authentic, and it seems to give Sanchez more spotlight for his percussive skills, but I prefer some of the band's horn and organ driven selections more.
Here are my favorites:
1)Joseito-A grand, rousing instrumental that opens the action. Organ reminiscent of Brian Auger.
4)Moon Pie-A powerful sax-driven piece.
5)Haitian Lady-Yet another powerful instrumental
6)Cosas del Alma-The best vocal. A simmering romantic ballad.
8)Virtue-a fine and hard-driving horn-based instrumental.
9)Days of Wine and Roses-another funky, horn-driven tune.
and
12)Bodacious Q-A funky cut with keyboards evocative of Ramsey Lewis.
Despite that I give Soul of the Conga just three stars, that doesn't mean I dislike it. In this case, the three star rating comes because though I like the instrumental selections a lot, I find most of the vocal cuts to be merely decent and often repetitious. Its truly a mixed bag. But there are plenty of tunes to like, and at the price its being offered here, you can't lose!

Poncho is the head Honcho.......2000-10-04

The conga master does it again...from "Joseito" to "Rumba De Po-Tiz"; Soul of the Conga is a full-fledged Latin Par-tay! I first heard about Sanchez after he won the Grammy for Latin Soul and this CD picks up where that one left off. Soul of the Conga finds Poncho on another spirited journey of Latin Jazz with plenty of festive fire. In fact, if you're a fan of Afro Cuban Jazz, then this CD is a definite must. Poncho has a killer band (especially the Torres Brothers), but also brings some very special guests along for the ride, Hammond B-3 maestro Joey Defrancesco (on Henry Mancini's "Days of Wine and Roses"), trumpeter Terence Blanchard (on "Stella by Starlight") and the Ortiz Brothers, five brothers who add a festive vibe with their group singing (check out track 2, "Oye Lo"). Bar none, Poncho Sanchez continues to prove that he is the premier conga player on the scene today.

Poncho's Best Yet.......2000-10-02

When I lived in Long Beach, CA, I had the pleasure of seeing Poncho Sanchez play live and shop for records, both within the space of a month...his live act was both tight and not uptight, while his taste in music was eclectic...I ran into him in the Gospel section at Tower Records...It is not overstatement to say that this is his best recording yet...several songs are straight out of the rhumba tradition of Cuba, with the Ortiz brothers making sounds that could be a hundred years old, classic Son from Cuba...amazing! And then there is the meeting of Joey De Francesco with Poncho Sanchez's group, which works in a fantastic way. Mr. Sanchez manages to keep his recordings fresh by bringing in guests...this is the most musically satisfying of his recent efforts and perhaps all recent salsa recordings.

Pure Poncho!.......2000-09-27

A new release by Poncho Sanchez is always a pleasant surprise. On the one hand, Poncho plays what I like to call, fundamental Latin-Jazz. However, Poncho always manages to come up with a few new surprises (and guests) along the way.

On SOUL OF THE CONGA we experience a little "Changui tipico" from Cuba with Poncho and the Ortiz Brothers. Next, some Latin-Jazz with special guest, Joey De Francesco and his Hammond B-3 Organ.

In my opinion, the only other musician that could hold his own in a Latin setting was the late, great Charlie Palmieri. However, Joey De Francesco does an admirable job of adding a new element to the music without overpowering the rest of the band.

Poncho has matured as a band leader since his apprenticeship with the late master of the vibraphone, Cal Tjader.

I really enjoyed this CD and highly recommend it. Thank You Poncho for keeping it real!

"digs deep into the Soul of Jazz - Viva Latin Jazz".......2000-09-17

In a fiery follow-up to his Grammy Award-winning "Latin Soul", the master conguero Poncho Sanchez, digs deep into this his latest release from Concord Records - "Soul of the Conga". Here, Sanchez presents his own brand of Latin jazz, infused with soul jazz of the Hammond B-3 phenomenon with Joey DeFrancesco, and the cool-tones of trumpeter Terence Blanchard, featuring the traditional, vintage Cuban roots of changui with The Ortiz Brothers.

Stand outs: "JOSEITO", augmented blues, perfect for DeFrancesco's grooving organ, with Scott Martin the composer of this selection, on tenor-sax with a solid solo - "DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES", from the late great composer Henry Mancini, Latinized version with intoxicating rhythm and DeFrancesco infectious style comes through with flying colors.

Highlight: "STELLA BY STARLIGHT", Victor Young's haunting tune, with the smooth-tones of Terence Blanchard on trumpet, simply classic and never sounding better, by Sanchez and friends.

Wonderful to see Latin jazz music growing all over the world, receiving the recognition they truly deserve. This album and music is not just for Latino people, but for everyone - gets under your skin and spreads enjoyment throughout your soul!

Tracks:

Eleven Intrusions (1949-50)
Eleven Intrusions (1949-50)
Eleven Intrusions (1949-50)
Eleven Intrusions (1949-50)
Eleven Intrusions (1949-50)
Eleven Intrusions (1949-50)
Eleven Intrusions (1949-50)
Eleven Intrusions (1949-50)
Eleven Intrusions (1949-50)
Eleven Intrusions (1949-50)
Eleven Intrusions (1949-50)
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Castor & Pollux---A Dance for the Twin Rhythms of Gemini
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Castor & Pollux---A Dance for the Twin Rhythms of Gemini
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Ring Around the Moon---A Dance for Here and Now
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Ring Around the Moon---A Dance for Here and Now
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Ring Around the Moon---A Dance for Here and Now
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Ring Around the Moon---A Dance for Here and Now
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Even Wild Horses---Dance Music for an Absent Drama
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Even Wild Horses---Dance Music for an Absent Drama
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Even Wild Horses---Dance Music for an Absent Drama
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Even Wild Horses---Dance Music for an Absent Drama
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Even Wild Horses---Dance Music for an Absent Drama
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Even Wild Horses---Dance Music for an Absent Drama
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Even Wild Horses---Dance Music for an Absent Drama
Plectra and Percussion Dances-Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theatre (1952)- Even Wild Horses---Dance Music for an Absent Drama
Ulysses at the Edge (1955)

Album Description

This newly remastered reissue marks a welcome return to the catalog of the first volume of the classic 4-CD collection that was formerly available on the CRI label. The works recorded on this disc span the first six years of what Harry Partch (1901-1974), slightly tongue-in-cheek, called the "third period" of his creative life. They show him moving away from the obsession with "the intrinsic music of spoken words" that had characterized his earlier output (the vocal works of 1930-33 and 1941-45) and towards an instrumental idiom, predominantly percussive in nature. This path was to take him through the "music-dance drama" King Oedipus (1951)—-the culmination of his "spoken word" manner—to the "dance satire" The Bewitched (1954-55), in which his new percussive idiom manifests itself. The three works on this disc show Partch before, during, and after this period of transition. In their quiet, forlorn way, the Eleven Intrusions are among the most compelling and beautiful of Partch's works. The individual pieces were composed at various times between August 1949 and December 1950, and only later gathered together as a cycle. Nonetheless they form a unified whole, with a nucleus of eight songs framed by two instrumental preludes and an essentially instrumental postlude. Although foreshadowed by the dance sequences of King Oedipus, the Plectra and Percussion Dances (1952) are the first of Partch's major works to be wholly instrumental in conception. They stand in relation to Oedipus as a satyr play in relation to a Greek tragedy—hence the work's subtitle, "Satyr-Play Music for Dance Theater." He felt that after the prolonged period of composition and production of Oedipus it was "almost a necessity to give vent to feelings and ideas, whims and caprices, even nonsense, that seem to have no place in tragedy." The final work on this disc is Ulysses at the Edge, written at Partch's studio at Gate 5 in July 1955. Ulysses, which Partch describes as a "minor adventure in rhythm," is unique among his mature compositions in that, in its original form, it did not call for any of his own instruments. The version recorded here, for alto and baritone saxophones, Diamond Marimba, Boo, Cloud-Chamber Bowls, and speaking voice, is considered the third version of the piece.

Customer Reviews:

Now it's possible to get your Partch all in a row.......2006-02-20

Harry Partch is the quintissential mad genius of music--his image of music that was non-Eurocentric led to him devising his own tonal scale based on ancient Greek and Asian methods and then creating his own instruments. This series release of Partch music lets one organize his Partch tastes and get a real sense of his progress through time. This disc is superb for the Intrusions, ghostly little pieces that were my first introduction to this fine composer. I would also highly recommend volume 3, which has Barstow, one of my favorite Partch pieces.

Be prepared. This is classical music you have not been prepared for. If you're already a fan of Partch, aren't you glad SOMEONE is getting all his amazing stuff together in one tightly knit package?

Average customer rating:

Conga Te
Doubleplusgood
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000DDYG
Release Date: 1993-10-14

Average customer rating:

Catchy or Kitschy ???
The Kid is still swinging!
FANCY FOOTWORK FROM THE KID
Ugh, don't bother. Mediocre content, poor mix

Too Cool to Conga!
Kid Creole & The Coconuts
Manufacturer: Orpheus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005JH4T
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Tracks:

Let's Jam
Flip, Flop And Fly/My Gal's A Jockey
Man Oh Man
Personal Assistant
Stingy Brim
I Saw Her First
Who's Your Daddy Now?
Endicott
Get Rid
Too Cool For Conga

Customer Reviews:

Catchy or Kitschy ???.......2002-07-01

Some have taken The Kid's music to heart while others have scoffed at the artist as a novelty retro act. Well, for the record,Kid Creole and The Coconuts are honest to goodness real talented hip and swingin' artists that go way beyond as being seen as a Las Vegas lounge show act. What I admire is their longevity in a music market that just seems to put out or support questionable or talent-challenged artists...This collection of tracks is strongly reminiscent of the big band swinging era of the 1940's and early 50's. Creole's vocals are in top form and give no clue that 20 years have passed since their debut back in the early 80's ! Too Cool To Conga is too cool to keep quiet about...

The Kid is still swinging!.......2002-02-07

Having been a fan of August Darnell since the Savannah Band was all the rage, I'm pretty biased. I love Kid Creole and the Cocoanuts! The first time I saw them was on SNL in either 1980 or 1981 and I've been sold ever since. The Kid is one of the hardest working men in show biz(to borrow from the immortal James Brown). It's a shame he isn't as revered here at home as he is in Europe and elsewhere around the world.

All that being said, I was pleasantly surprised to finally get my hands on a new (US) release. Too Cool to Conga is not necessarily the Kid's best, but it shows that he still "has it" and more importantly, he hasn't sold out but stuck with the "Calypso-Cab Calloway-from-The Bronx persona. Why wasn't this guy the biggest seller during the brief swing dance revival of a few years ago? The title track is great. With the wacky lyrics that add to the bizarre history of the Haitian Hero. My only regret is that Coati Mundi is no longer part of the band.

If you like what you hear on this disc, make it a point to go back and listen to hios earlier work, especially "Fresh Fruit in Foreign Places". You may also want to check out Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band.

FANCY FOOTWORK FROM THE KID.......2002-01-22

I'm a long-time fan of Kid Creole dating back to his Fresh Fruit in Foreign Places & Tropical Gangsters albums of the early 80s. To my disappointment his albums stopped getting released here in Australia after the You Shoulda Told Me You Were ... release in 1991. So on my recent holiday in Honolulu I came across his new Too Cool To Conga CD in Tower Records and thought I'd check it out. It's a fun hip album and showcases the entertainment value of Kid Creole. The emphasis is on R & B, Swing and Rock & Roll music styles with tracks such as Let's Jam, Flip Flop & Fly and Stingy Brim but there are still the catchy pop tunes for which he is renowned like the title track Too Cool To Conga (I couldn't get this infectious rhyme out of my head for days!) Also worth mentioning is the band's updating of the classic Endicott, with a jazzy high energy feel. The mix is fine and there is no emphasis of bass. Kid Creole may be Too Cool To Conga but he still has plenty of fancy footwork on this wonderful, feel good CD.

Ugh, don't bother. Mediocre content, poor mix.......2002-01-04

I thought this was going to be a cool CD. Boy was I wrong.

Most immediately annoying is the mix. It is so bass heavy that the vocals, horns, & instruments are hard to hear. Maybe this is supposed to either be a dance CD or only played on boom boxes & walkman's.

Secondly and most importantly, Kid Creole has good intentions but doesn't make it happen. There is definitely something missing. I am a fan of big band, swing, and R&B/Blues with horns. This music may have a quick beat but it doesn't get my toes tapping.

The music isn't cohesive and Kid Creole doesn't grab my attention. Maybe it is his monotone delivery or maybe its the uninspiring arrangments.

Try the Brian Setzer Orchestra for an example of great arrangements and dynamic vocals that grab your attention and get your blood flowing.

God Speaks Thru These Hands
Average customer rating:
God Speaks Thru These Hands
Bob Conga
Manufacturer: Percussive soul music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00006J9G2
Release Date: 2002-08-06

Tracks:

Keep Me Lord
Africa Wake UP
Drums of Thunder
Be Good to Yourself
The Gathering

Album Description

A fresh new gospel CD with a percussive flavor.

Average customer rating:

Too Cool to Conga!
Kid Creole & The Coconuts
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00020QZL6
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Tracks:

Let's Jam!
Flip, Flop and Fly/My Gal's a Jockey
Man, Oh Man
Personal Assistant
I Saw Her First
Stingy Brim
Savanna
Who's Your Daddy Now?
Endicott
Get Rid
Too Cool to Conga
1+1=1
Choo Choo Ch'Boogie

Latin Fiesta "3 CD Set" featuring: Tito Puente Jr., Santa Esmeralda, Latin Rhythm, Papicito, Santa Esmeralda, Bracaccini, Dos, Julio Sole, Chino, Original Latin All-Stars, Latin Lou, Mambo All Stars, Dick Martian, Cali Aleman, Manny Bango, Grupo Division, Marcely Y Los Andy's, Los Tigrillos, Los Truenos De Tejas, Grupo Flash, Grupo Mojado, Los Olimpico 5, Indigo Azul, Banda El Recodo, Banda Blanca, Los Riveros, Asereje

Average customer rating:

Latin Fiesta "3 CD Set" featuring: Tito Puente Jr., Santa Esmeralda, Latin Rhythm, Papicito, Santa Esmeralda, Bracaccini, Dos, Julio Sole, Chino, Original Latin All-Stars, Latin Lou, Mambo All Stars, Dick Martian, Cali Aleman, Manny Bango, Grupo Division, Marcely Y Los Andy's, Los Tigrillos, Los Truenos De Tejas, Grupo Flash, Grupo Mojado, Los Olimpico 5, Indigo Azul, Banda El Recodo, Banda Blanca, Los Riveros, Asereje
Another Cha Cha - Santa Esmeralda, Everybody Salsa - Latin Rhythm, Conga - Papicito, Oye Como Va - Tito Puente Jr. , Fascinada - Bracaccini, Hare To Do Para Ti - Dos, Bailamos - Julio Sole Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - Santa Esmeralda , I Like It Like That - Original Latin All-Stars, Mambo #5 - Latin Lou And The Mambo All Stars Suavecito - Chino , Macarena - Cali Aleman, Soul Makossa - Manny Bango Livin' La Vida Loca - Dick Martian , El Morenito - Marcely Y Los Andy's, Tapame - Los Tigrillos, El Cable - Los Truenos De Tejas El Cafetero - Grupo Division , Tonta - Grupo Mojado, La Cadenita - Los Olimpico 5 Bailando Hasta Amanecer - Grupo Flash , La Pirinola - Banda El Recodo, La Culebra - Banda El Recodo Suavemente - Indigo Azul , and La Chona - Los Riveros, Ketchup Song - Asereje Fiesta - Banda Blanca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000ILLHH6

Average customer rating:

amazing guitar

Life Imitates Art
Steve Glotzer
Manufacturer: Six String Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004YRW3
Release Date: 2000-09-15

Tracks:

Mission Impossible
Diamonds On My Windshield
Los Cabos Serenade
Stevie's Blues
Short and Suite
Beso Azul
Tucson
All Tucked Out
A Taste Of Blue
Body and Soul

Album Description

A unique blend of jazz, folk and latin stylings featuring masterful guitar with a warm, intimate feel

Customer Reviews:

amazing guitar.......2000-09-29

the beautiful guitar work, moving from electric jazz to acoustic, to latin flavored music, all with a blues feel is extraordinary. the segues are seamless and blend beautifully. i especially love the use of percussion.

Rock Music:

Rock Music

rock music

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