Conga Blue

Conga Blue

Conga Blue

ASIN: B000003OZ4

Editorial Reviews
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,Latin,Latin Jazz,Latin Music
Conga Blue
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • 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

CubaCuba | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Latin Music | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Latin JazzLatin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Soul of the Conga
  2. Latin Soul
  3. Afro-Cuban Fantasy
  4. Soul Sauce: Memories of Cal Tjader
  5. 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:

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

2 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

3 out of 5 stars 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.
Conga Blue
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Awesome multi-channel Poncho!!
 Conga Blue
Poncho Sanchez
Manufacturer: Concord Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

CubaCuba | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Latin Music | Styles | Music
Latin PopLatin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Latin JazzLatin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
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  4. 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:

5 out of 5 stars 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.
Charles Wuorinen: Works for Violin and Piano, 1969-1983
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A glorious disc!
 Charles Wuorinen: Works for Violin and Piano, 1969-1983

Manufacturer: Bridge
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
ViolinViolin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ClassicalClassical | 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:

5 out of 5 stars 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.
Conga Fury
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Conga Fury
    Juno Reactor
    Manufacturer: Blue Room
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B00004S2E6
    Release Date: 1996-12-10

    Jazz Music:

    1. Dancing in Your Head
    2. Dans Mon Ile [Import]
    3. Eight String Religion
    4. Eliane Elias Plays Jobim
    5. Emphasizer [Enhanced]
    6. Feelin' Good: Live in Studio [Live]
    7. Friday Night in San Francisco (Stereo SACD) [Enhanced] [Live] [SACD]
    8. Harpo in Hi Fi/Harpo at Work
    9. Impressions [Original recording remastered]
    10. Instrumental Fantasy - Volume Four

    Jazz Music

    Jazz Music