Palo Congo
Sabu
1957
Album Summary
Palo Congo is the first album by conguero Sabu Martinez, featuring Arsenio Rodríguez and his brothers Raúl and "Quique". It was recorded and released in 1957 through Blue Note Records.
WikipediaLook, I'll be the first to admit that I probably just don't "get" this. But the plain fact was this was painful to listen to. It's repetitive noise. You would have to be just REALLY into conga drums to love this album. There's a 6 minute track that's NOTHING BUT CONGAS. And the next one is a 4 minute track of MOSTLY congas broken up by random yells and loud samba whistles. On the tracks where there ARE vocals, they're off-key shrieks accompanied by extraordinarily shrill "harmonies" (if you can call them that). It's. The. WORST. Hands down. Listening to this album makes me angry.
Afro-cubano, muito bom, infelizmente tem poucos albuns q nao sao em ingles nessa lista...
This might be one of my fav discoveries via using this generator. The Cuban rhythms on congo are very intoxicating and dancy. The chanty vocals add to a very nice atmosphere. Blue Note does not miss and this is a very very very good album.
Not heard this before. Because it's an older stereo recording you get things pushed real hard left and right and I don't love that on headphones. Also being older the recording is a touch on the raw side but it suits the sound I think. I'll listen again on speakers and will probably like it more that way. In a weird way this reminds me of krautrock in it's trance like repetition and jamming. I like the textured/layered rhythm and the tendency towards chanting. It actually sounds very experimental to me yet rooted in something that feels ancient and raw. The birth of the groove. Man, can you imagine seeing this being performed live in a jazz club back in the day?
I had to actively ignore Rudy Van Gelder's name to get on board with this one. The recording is the weakest part, at least in terms of pleasantness. There's plenty of information preserved, and the beat information in particular is of such density that I can't help but love it. I've only been affected by rhythms in this way by EDM records in the past, but this is all humans all the time. I took and left the often harsh tone elements, but there's enough variety on here to make me question the wisdom of that move.
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, before In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. But Cuban. This album is 65 years old and sounds like it was recorded down in the barrio yesterday. While it seems out of place for a Blue Note record, latin-jazz ushered the way in for the Bossa Nova craze that would come in a short decade. This was a fun listen and I plan on buying this on vinyl to have a dance party in my living room.
3.5 - Some cool polyrhythmic, call-and-response folk songs. A nice palate cleanser from all the post-punk, British electronica and Neil Young.
holy crap, fucking amazing. super swinging' and stuff. i love the sweet syncopated rhythms, and the panning of, say, a guitar all the way to the right - which usually annoys me - is more fun than anything here.
Really feeling this album. I like how you can hear all the distinct parts so clearly. The percussion feels like it's right there. Loved the guitar on "Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso."
I've never fully dived into latin jazz, probably as some of the famous albums I've checked out have been a bit clean/safe/chilled sounding. This one is WILD. Lots of hypnotic drumming and chanting. Very strong roots in African traditional folk musics, with the jazz and latin sounds making this a fusion feast. Would like more in this vein please. 4*
My SIL first moved over here from Cuba in the early 2000s. If you ever want to feel like cementing yourself as the most awkward white-guy dancer in a crowd, go to a Cuban party. The guy talking at the start of the 2nd track was sick. The drumming makes me want to slap a barstool for a pub conga solo
A different spin from 1001, this gives us some Afro-Cuban jams that a very much rhythmically-focused. As the name suggests, prepare for the congas. It's a nice slice from another part of the world, though the vocals leave little to be desired. It's best to consider them as part of the rhythm, with their call-and-response style that grounds the music. Overall, it's pretty simple, so it's not much to be impressed by. Sometimes a nice little album showcasing music from outside of the usual countries is all that's needed.
This is the first time I've listened to a rumba album. I sincerely hope it was the last time I've listened to a rumba album.
Great great great! Music that makes you swing your hips and move your feet! Probably a good thing no one else was around when I listened... injuries may have occurred...
this was so different than any other music I ever listen to and I loved it!
This is so good to listen to while working, hypnotic and energetic, a+ flow
É um ótimo álbum para se sentir animado e contagiado numa noite de sexta-feira! AMEI!
Loved the heavy reliance on percussion. The songs were driving and worth listening to.
Pretty easy to get 5 stars out of me, Spanish lyrics and Latin riddimmmms. Love it. Favourite song was the first track El Cumbanchero
This was a surprise! I really like the rhythm of hat record and the raw energy
Pretty great. I didnt really like other cuban inspired albums (buena vista social club), but I found this one a lot more interesting.
Delightful. Will definitely dip back into this album when I need something of this flavor
Großartig! Solch spröde Instrumentierung und solch tiefes Verständnis von Trance. Liebe das einfach und unmittelbar mal ganz ohne theoretische Verirrung 4.4
Very fun! man can drum, and the singing was fun but maybe a bit repetitive
I didn’t love everything, and the vocals were especially rough at points, but some of the rhythms spoke to me on what I can only describe as a primal level. 7/10
Big fan!! ONLY four because I don't know Spanish that well. Such good music production/lighthearted tunes.
Very catchy rhythms and chants, with the additional instrumentation supplementing them well
Good music that must have been very unusual to the American ear when it was first released
Fun - hadn't heard of Sabu and this was a good listen. I'm not authoritative on this genre but it held its own with other stuff I've heard by Tito Rodriguez, Puente, etc.
Kubanska salsa ili rumba je uvijek ima rezervirano mjesto u mojim u ušima.
98 albums into 1001 and this is only the 3rd non-english album, and that's being generous in considering Kraftwerk's Trans Europe Express as being non-english. Is this list really that myopically focused on english language albums? This album is a perfect example of why the voices of the whole world need to be included in this list. With just some congas (I'm not even sure it isn't just one) and vocals the track 'Billumba-Palo Congo' shows the purity of Sabu's energy. While other tracks bring in one or two more instruments, the album continues on in much the same way. Each track is bare bones in its arrangement, but in no way does that compromise or undermine their ability to get your feet tapping and your hips moving. The album is vivd and proof to me that I don't need to speak the same language to appreciate the impact of good music. Perhaps more "Top X" lists need to take that into consideration.
Love a good Latin jazz-type album on this list, always refreshing. Some fantastic percussion on here, and the vocals are all over the place in a good way. I especially love that albums like this are from the '50s, it just feels so timeless. Shoutout to Blue Note and whoever else took the time and resources to make albums and preserve music like this. Favorite tracks: Asabache, Choferito-Plena, El Cumbanchero. Album art: Really love this, the bold colors are great. It's a simple band photo dramatically elevated by basic framing, text, and colors. Some of these old school jazz/international music covers are fantastic. 4/5
Great jazz album! At least that is how it was listed on Apple music. Felt like fusion in some moments as well, much more focus on the drums than other instruments but also singing too. I really enjoyed this one.
It's hard to believe this came out in the 50s. It seems ahead of it's time.
I'm a sucker for Latin jazz. Love the tracks with call-and-response hooks. Lot of energy. Wish it continued through the whole thing, but the bongo-solo song kind of lost me. Favorite tracks: "Billumba-Palo Congo", "Choferito-Plana"
Just a nice and good time. Some killer drum work. This Sabu fellow has an interesting pedigree. I like it!
You can always tell when an album will be 🔥 just from the cover. Best part of this one is the first playlist recommendation on Spotify is Boogaloo Essentials
Really great rhythms. Love the melodies that come from repetitive percussion. I'm also impressed to have encountered a bad stereo recording from the 50s. I didn't think that technology was available yet.
Kind of slow towards the end of the album but makes great easy listening
Too interesting to review after one listen. Rhythmic, exciting, raw. Will run to it a few times to learn what it's like after a few listens. Very afro inspired Cuban drumming and singing. Liked it.
Love the exotic sound. Would love to mix the songs with some house beatc
Not fully my cup of tea - but it’s still a wonderful jazz virtuoso album - it’s hectic, urgent and fun - barely a moment of calm so it’s not an everyday album.
Infectious rhythms everywhere. The almost raucous call and response in the vocals of a couple of tracks carries the joy the musicians seem to experience as they play. Since this appears to be an album featuring a percussion ensemble, I was surprised by the brilliant guitar playing that came along on a few of the tracks. The natural sound of an amp pushed just to breakup, and reverb of what sounds like an actual hall, gives a fullness and warmth to the guitar sound, while the playing is as ebullient and spontaneous as the percussion.
8/10 fun album but I wish the instruments were more diverse a lot of those songs were basically just a drum solo going on for a long time I get that that’s their culture and their music I’m not hating on it, but they have guitar and other stuff and it sounded really cool, I think they should’ve used it more
I've never thought I needed a freaking conga driven Cuban rumba for my morning but here we are.
A perfect blend of ear bending splendour riding a zephyr of peace and tranquility. This tore a hole right through my mind and exposed my inner most fantasies to every inch of my quaking being. Hold the phone, Pedro, we have lift off.
I always thought that not much creativity was happening in music before I was born. I suppose it's easy to fall into that trap. This album shows that Afro beats and Cuban music were being fused creating the Afro Cuban genre before I was born. That's wicked. I wonder who was listening to it? We know our parents weren't that cool.
This one is ... not boring! Cubans banging on congo drums - for long periods, with some random yelling. It is not something I would've expected to find on this list, not because it isn't great, but because lists like this tend to lean towards more popular music and this is way too weird to ever be popular. Overall, I found it super interesting, raw, engaging, and cool. The rhythms are killer. This is a strange one but definitely one I will enjoy listening to again.
Fantastic music! I love the exposure to other culture's music that this challenge has brought me. Very cool
Neat! A conguero! I grooved…but desperately needed context for this album. According to Wikipedia Sabu Martinez has a wildly impressive American jazz and pop resumé and started his career performing with Benny Goodman and Dizzy Gillespie at 19 years old! That’s about all I can find. Dude seems pretty important to a very specific scene. And notable for weaving percussive, Afro-Cuban sounds into the American bebop scene. But Palo Congo—his debut—doesn’t appear to be his most important album. That appears to be his last, 1973’s Afro Temple, which is wildly psychedelic and awesome! I highly recommend checking it out (it’s on Youtube) if you were at all intrigued by this. Interesting how the larger 1001 community reviewers rate obscure, dated, and global (or globally-influenced in this case) music so lowly. Seems unfair. I seriously saw one reviewer complaining that this album was featured on the list instead of a second Supertramp album. Like, what? Nobody needs to hear two Supertramp albums before they die. One of these is far more vital. So, I’m boosting this master conguero's record with a strong 4 out of 5.
Very solid drumming skill, got a good driving rythm to it. I enjoy this as background music but it's not a thing I'd want to typically listen to.
It likely inspired the genre which is amazing but the album itself sounded like a bunch of pals just trying to figure out what to do at first.
Papi Congo is Spanish Jazz, while I am not totally familiar with the genre I’ve heard it in other media. It definitely transports you to a different place, for me it reminded me of walking through some of the markets in Mexico while the dry heat engulfs you. Great music to have on the background while doing something around the house where you might find yourself moving to the beat.
Latin: oft nicht mein Ding. Zu viel Ayayayayay, zu viele hektische Bläser, zu viele Salsaklischees für meinen Geschmack. Das hier aber (hört gut zu, Bongonazis aller Stadtparks in den 90ern und geht zurück in eure Keller!), das gefällt mir sehr gut. Ob in den toll rohen reinen Percussion-Nummern, in den Call-and-Response-Machismospielchen oder auch in den eher lieblichen, für mich dann doch auch nach vertrauterem Latin klingenden Gesangsnummern. Hat ne Tür aufgestoßen und bringt locker 3,4 Punkte. Ayayayay!