Conga Blue

Amazon.com
The conga drum chair was always the position of honor in Cal Tjader's Latin-jazz band. In 1975, California's Poncho Sanchez took over the chair and held it until Tjader died in 1982. Since then, Sanchez has emerged as one of the top congueros and bandleaders in the genre, because he has synthesized the styles of all his predecessors into a sound that is more fluid than frenetic, more melodic than manic. No one influenced him more than Santamaria, and Sanchez's fifteenth album as a leader reunites the mentor and protégé on half of the 10 tracks. The horn and piano parts are respectable if not special, but the real action is in the percussion section, where student and teacher remind each other of the many ways to chop up a measure of music. --Geoffrey Himes

Conga Blue,Poncho Sanchez,Concord Records,Cuban Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Latin,Latin Jazz

Jazz

Music

jazz

music

Average customer rating: A fantastic display by El Mejor One of Poncho Sanchez's Best Dullsville Superb Disappointing effort from the master of Afro-cuban rhythms

Conga Blue Poncho Sanchez Manufacturer: Concord Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cuba | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music General | Latin Music | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Latin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: Soul of the Conga Latin Soul Afro-Cuban Fantasy Soul Sauce: Memories of Cal Tjader Outa Sight ASIN: B000003OZ4 Release Date: 1996-09-10

Tracks:

1. Black Stockings
2. Besame Mama
3. Mambo De Cuco
4. Conga Blue
5. Dulce Amor
6. Manila
7. Watermelon Man
8. Happy Now
9. Mon Pa Mon Po
10. Para Ti

Amazon.com

The conga drum chair was always the position of honor in Cal Tjader's Latin-jazz band. In 1975, California's Poncho Sanchez took over the chair and held it until Tjader died in 1982. Since then, Sanchez has emerged as one of the top congueros and bandleaders in the genre, because he has synthesized the styles of all his predecessors into a sound that is more fluid than frenetic, more melodic than manic. No one influenced him more than Santamaria, and Sanchez's fifteenth album as a leader reunites the mentor and protégé on half of the 10 tracks. The horn and piano parts are respectable if not special, but the real action is in the percussion section, where student and teacher remind each other of the many ways to chop up a measure of music. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

A fantastic display by El Mejor.......2001-07-16

Yes, the tempo is slow, but Santamaria and Poncho on the same recording itself is enough to make this worth listening to. The conga interaction with the rest of the percussion and the rest of the instruments is flawless. I could listen to this album all day! I think that this ranks high on my list of Sanchez albums.

One of Poncho Sanchez's Best.......2001-04-22

As far as I know, Mongo Santamaria came out of semi-retirement to play on this CD, and his presence adds greatness to an already very good concept album. "Besame Mama" is the vocal highpoint--so good it's chilling. Virtually every selection is a smoker.

Dullsville.......2000-09-14

Sure, Watermelon Man (patterned after the Gerald Wilson recording) is fun, but the rest is unimaginative and uninspired. Mostly it's about the band leader's bongo solos, which are boring indeed. A genuine disappointment.

Superb.......2000-06-12

I disagree with the last review. On the contrary, this has emerged to me as the best Poncho Sanchez album. There are no weak cuts composed by the band (which does often happem), and the percussion is out of this world. It is true that the piano parts are weak, and have been since Charlie Otwell left the band, but where else do you have so much play on percussion during the montuno sections? The kind of percusive improvization you see on this album is badly needed in Latin Jazz. Yes the tempos or slow, but enjoy how the musicians weave through the music at the end of each cut, draw it out, and work with it. I prefer this to up tempo cuts with tight arangements. The percussion alone, which emerges strongly at the end of each tune, makes this album unique, and perhaps the most truly latin of all of Poncho Sanchez' work.

Disappointing effort from the master of Afro-cuban rhythms.......2000-05-25

I wouldn't just flat out say that this album doesn't rate a puchase, but I would say that I definitely rank Conga Blue far behind the absolutely fabulous live Latin Soul album and the ocasionally average but often fabulous Afro-Cuban Fantasy disc.

These recordings, other than a very few, just didn't have much flavor to them. The tempo of the album as a whole is much slower paced than the other listed recordings which is nice but doesn't really turn me on.

Check out Latin Jazz first then Afro-Cuban Fantasy and finally if you have to Conga Blue.

Average customer rating: Awesome multi-channel Poncho!!

Conga Blue Poncho Sanchez Manufacturer: Concord Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cuba | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music General | Latin Music | Styles | Music Latin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Latin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale [Hybrid SACD] J.S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001-1006 Dark Side of the Moon 30th Anniversary Edition Kind of Blue ASIN: B00009WVRQ Release Date: 2003-07-22

Tracks:

1. Black Stockings
2. Bme Mam
3. Mambo de Cuco
4. Conga Blues
5. Dulce Amor
6. Manila
7. Watermelon Man
8. Happy Now
9. Mon Pa Mon Po
10. Para Ti

Customer Reviews:

Awesome multi-channel Poncho!!.......2006-03-23

Latin-Jazz in sacd/multi-channel sound.Sign me up! There is very little latin-jazz available in the sacd format(and no salsa at all) So to be able to hear Pocho's spectacular conga drumming in full multi-channel glory is sonic nirvana! This is a great cd in any format but the sacd sonics elevate it above and beyond. Excellant production,latin percussion that will amaze and delight make this one a must have.

Average customer rating: A glorious disc!

Charles Wuorinen: Works for Violin and Piano, 1969-1983 Manufacturer: Bridge ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B000003GI3 Release Date: 1993-09-11

Tracks:

1. The Blue Bamboula
2. Six Pieces: I
3. Six Pieces: II
4. Six Pieces: III
5. Six Pieces: IV
6. Six Pieces: V
7. Six Pieces: VI
8. Six Pieces: Spinoff
9. Six Pieces: The Long And The Short
10. Six Pieces: Fantasia

Customer Reviews:

A glorious disc!.......1998-10-12

The performances are superb (from Ohlsson's masterful reading of The Blue Bamboula to a sublime performance of the Six Pieces for violin and piano. An essential Wuorinen CD.

Average customer rating:

Conga Fury Juno Reactor Manufacturer: Blue Room ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music ASIN: B00004S2E6 Release Date: 1996-12-10

Jazz Music:

1. Cross Section-Saxes [Import]
2. Crossings
3. Cry!/Tender
4. Dancing to the Big Bands
5. Deep End [Import]
6. Down by the Riverside
7. Down Home Style
8. Down with It!
9. El Mejor
10. Elmo Hope Trio With...

Jazz Music

jazz music