Mongo at the Village Gate finds
Mongo Santamaria entering the boogaloo era with a variety of funky pieces that show the influence of R&B and soul-jazz without losing the group's roots in Cuban music. The infectious live set teams the conguero with trumpeter
Marty Sheller, the reeds of
Pat Patrick and Bobby Capers, pianist
Rodgers Grant, bassist
Victor Venegas, drummer
Frank Hernandez, and the percussion of
Chihuahua Martinez and
Julian Cabrera. Such tunes as "Fatback," "Mongo's Groove," and "Creole" have happy, soulful, and simple melodies. This is one of
Marty Sheller's best dates on trumpet, while
Santamaria takes "My Sound" as a colorful unaccompanied solo. A remake of "Para Ti" is a welcome addition. ~ Scott Yanow