Meet Mongo Santamaria
The Artist's Way horse is still out to pasture.
My dear friend Eliot shared Sofrito by Mongo Santamaria with me this past week. The album immediately became the soundtrack of my summer, if not the duration of my existence. Go ahead and put it on while I keep talking. If you’re winding down for bed, skip to the second track, “Cruzan.” If you are bright eyed and bushy tailed, dive right in. If you aren’t bright eyed and bushy tailed, you will be after taking a spin with Mongo.
According to his Spotify artist’s page, Ramon “Mongo” Santamaria was a Cuban percussionist and bandleader who started his career in New York City in the 1950s. He blended jazz, R&B, and conga drumming to create smooth, Latin go-go dance music. I learned that the word for a musician who is a master of the conga drum is called a “conguero!” How fun. After years of playing nightclubs, Santamaria got his lucky break when he happened to be on stage when Herbie Hancock debuted “Watermelon Man,” resulting in a famous recording featuring Mongo’s drumming. A subsequent deal with Columbia records resulted in dozens of records until Santamaria’s death in 2003.
I hope you take some time to feel the joy in this music this week!
Until next,
Elizabeth