Mongo Santamaria Sabroso!

Personnel includes: Mongo Santamaria, Felix "Pupi" Legarreta, Jose "Chombo" Silva, Rolando Lozando, Louis Valizan, Marcus Cabuto, Rene "El Flaco" Hernandez, Willie Bobo, Bayardo Velarde, Pete Escovedo.

Originally released on Fantasy (8058).

Personnel: Mongo Santamaria (congas, bongos); Bayardo Velarde, Pete Escovedo, Rudy Calzado (vocals); Felix "Pupi" Legarreta, Jose "Chombo" Silva (violin); Rolando Lozano (flute); Jose Silva (tenor saxophone); Louis Valiz n (trumpet); Ren‚ Hern ndez , Vince Guaraldi (piano); Cal Tjader (vibraphone); Willie Bobo (timbales).

Audio Remixer: Phil DeLancie.

Liner Note Author: Chuck Ellsworth.

Recording information: San Francisco, CA.

At the time that Sabroso was recorded, Mongo Santamaria's group was essentially a charanga band with two trumpets added, a combination that works quite well. The group has superior playing by Jose "Chombo" Silva on both violin and tenor (helping "Para Ti" to become a classic), two little-known but talented trumpeters (Louis Valizan and Marcus Cabuto), the great flutist Rolando Lozano, pianist Rene Hernandez, bassist Victor Venegas, and Willie Bobo on drums. Pete Escovedo is one of the background singers as Rudi Calzado takes the lead on a few numbers but does not dominate. There are many fine individual moments on this joyous and infectious set. ~ Scott Yanow