1. El Cumbanchero
2. Billumba/Palo Congo
3. Choferita/Plena
4. Asabache
5. Simba
6. Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso
7. Aggo Elegua
8. Tribilin Cantore
The jazz onslaught continues! But in a very different way! This album is wildly different from the jazz I've reviewed so far (and indeed everything else I've reviewed). It's got a pronounced Afro-Cuban sound, and when I say 'pronounced', I actually mean 'It's a shitload of conga drums all over the place while people scream in Spanish'. Well, not entirely, but still.
From a historical standpoint, this album is fascinating. One can imagine slaves in Cuba practicing Santeria rituals, complete with virtuoso conga players! The tracks that tend more towards this are very frenzied, with wild tribal chanting. Mixed with the more traditional jazzy tracks like 'El Cumbanchero', these songs can sound a bit jarring.
Musically, this album suffers somewhat. Although there are lots of great moments on this record (the guitar player, wherever he appears, is pretty damned awesome), many of the songs seemed to drag on and on. I can only listen to recreations of rituals for so long, particularly since I can't speak Spanish.
A very unusual record. Awesome congas, though. 7/10
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