Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Exactly what I’d want to be listening to while relaxing near some water with a drink in the tropics. I added “El Cumanchero” to my playlist.
Tout ce qui touche au Son, de près ou de loin m'enchante. 1957? Non, cette musique est intemporelle. Je pense que je vais me faire une playlist de ça pour les jours moins lumineux et pluvieux qui s'en viennent. Bon là, je veux pas qu'un cubain vienne me faire ma fête parce que c'est pas du Son, ça l'air qu'on appelle ça de la Rumba, mais on va pas se perde dans les technicalités, on a une armée de percussions afro-cubaines qui font des rythmes endiablés.
ça mets du soleil!
Okay, this is quite an old album and it sounded quite nice in the beginning of the first songs, and that seems to be a trend, but it's okay in the beginning of the songs, but it just gets so annoyingly repetitive after a while. I couldn't listen to all the songs in full because it was testing my patience, but the album is overall decent, apart from the repetitiveness of the songs.
That was fun. I'll say 2.5, round up.
Fun and fine
This is great - lots of fun.
Bongos are fun
Knowing of course i only have so much context. It's good - just not as fun/easy of a listen as Buena Vista and or as impressive in the instrumentation as Machito.
Really fun listen but the extended congo sections got monotonous.
I was hoping for a little more from this. Some tracks are just percussion. Some have yelps and noodling on it. But it’s not that tuneful.
Good.
Fun
El Cumbanchero
This was a fun listen, heavy on the percussion and the call and response vocals. It puts you into a natural groove with its simplicity and repetition but does wear out its welcome after a while. I enjoyed it, something different from the usual suspects on the list.
A fantastic jam fest featuring multiple drums, bass, and guitar. The beats are catchy and keep your body awake and moving. A fun interlude from the normal tracks we’re served up.
This is pretty boring jazz, with extended and unimaginative runs. The rhythms are not unique or surprising and overall the album left me feeling rather empty and underwhelmed. There are much better Afro-Carribean Jazz examples, but this was an early entry, so maybe that’s why it is included here? No need to revisit this one again.
Few thoughts Music in 1957 was better in Cuba than here in the US I don't know the difference between a Bongo and a Congo and i don"t care. Both are pretty damn awesome. Overall fun lively music, very enjoyable. I think because I didn't understand the lyrics it got a bit repetitive, but great album regardless.
I like it but it feels a more like a “try this musical genre” pick rather than “history of popular music changed with this album”
It's really cool, buena vista social club but a bit more spicy
Pretty good album, great afro-cuban percussion.
Perfect for ritual sacrifice- not sure if listen again but it’s hypnotic
Ya know, I actually enjoy this but after 30 minutes it does begin to lose its appeal exponentially
I think way too many people are unable to break free from typical Euro/American-centric song structure, as this album is undeniably groovy and full of life and I feel has a far lower average rating than it deserves.
No, annoying
6/10. Lo escuché muy por arriba así que mi opinión quizás cambie en un futuro, pero realmente me gustó. Es el estilo de rumba cubana, con bombos y percusiones acompañando a unas voces locas erráticas y completamente desquiciadas pero increíbles. Seguro lo escuche de nuevo.
Not bad, just very repetitive
2.5. It’s fine and it’s not bad and that’s a basis for helping me pick stars. So I can’t give it a 2, but I don’t need to hear it ever again. I’m sure it helped shape many of the percussion that I love today and listen to all the time. I’m assuming it was the first and that’s why it’s on the list
Although I'd say 98% of us could've intuited it, I guess everyone must KNOW, from personal experience, before they die, that Congos can't carry the lead for an entire album.
Conga music is great live. This is OK. Mix seemed off- needed more drums and less vocals- but maybe just off because the album is so old.
Chill Spanish songs
# In-Depth Review: Sabu Martinez – *Palo Congo* (1957) **Sabu Martinez's *Palo Congo*** is far more than just a jazz record. Recorded for the legendary Blue Note label in 1957 and produced by Alfred Lion with engineering by Rudy Van Gelder, it is a primal, powerful, and deeply spiritual journey into the heart of Afro-Cuban musical tradition. As the debut album by the New York-born conguero of Puerto Rican descent, it stands as a radical statement that strips away the conventions of Western jazz to explore the raw, polyrhythmic core of its roots. --- ### Music and Production: A Percussive Assault The music on *Palo Congo* is built almost entirely around percussion, featuring **five conga players** (including Martinez himself and the legendary Cuban tres player Arsenio Rodriguez) creating a dense and hypnotic rhythmic landscape. This focus makes the album an immersive experience, and its innovative stereo production (for the time) places the listener right in the middle of the rhythmic circle. The production, handled by Blue Note's Alfred Lion, is stark and raw. This was a conscious choice, as Martinez aimed to evoke the feeling of a **communal ritual or street celebration**, and the music largely achieves this through intricate cross-rhythms and jubilant call-and-response vocals. The album's sound is a mix of the intense, "wild" African-influenced tracks and more upbeat, Latin-oriented numbers. --- ### Themes and Lyrics: Ritual, Africa, and Cuba Lyrically and thematically, the album is a profound exploration of its namesake, exploring the connections between the Congo and modern Cuban music. The title itself is a reference to *Palo*, a group of Afro-Cuban religions with roots in the Bantu region of Africa. - **Ritual Elements:** Tracks like "Billumba-Palo Congo" and "Aggo Elegua" are presented as fragments of religious ritual, featuring chants and "preaching" in Afro-Cuban dialects that evoke African deities. - **Storytelling:** "Simba" is a fantastic fantasy piece where Martinez narrates the story of a lion hunt, showcasing the album's vibrant storytelling tradition. - **Cultural Celebration:** "Tribilin Cantore" and "El Cumbanchero" are more celebratory, with melodies that paint a picture of the Cuban landscape and its joyous spirit. "El Cumbanchero" opens with a spoken introduction by Sabu, asking the listener to listen to the drum that "expresses his soul". --- ### Influence and Legacy *Palo Congo* is a vital link in the chain of Afro-Cuban jazz. It connects the innovations of pioneers like **Chano Pozo**, who Martinez replaced in Dizzy Gillespie's band, to a more traditional and folkloric sound. The album's influence can be heard in its stripped-down, groove-heavy approach. One reviewer noted how the album feels like "the sound of a man at the forefront of musical development... thinking: 'Where did it all come from?'". Furthermore, the guitar work by Arsenio Rodriguez, particularly on "Rhapsodia del Maravilloso," has been cited as a direct precursor to the later Latin rock sound, with some even calling it **proto-funk** and mentioning its influence on artists like Santana. The album's exploration of percussion and polyrhythms also connects it to other seminal percussion-focused works of the era, like those by Art Blakey, a frequent collaborator of Martinez. --- ### Pros and Cons Here's a breakdown of the album's strengths and weaknesses: #### **Pros** - **Pioneering and Unique Sound:** *Palo Congo* is a bold and authentic statement that stands apart from other jazz releases of the time, presenting raw, ritualistic Afro-Cuban music on a major label like Blue Note. - **Exceptional Musicianship:** The ensemble playing is incredibly tight and the rhythmic complexity is mesmerizing. Arsenio Rodriguez's guitar work is a highlight, offering a melodic and funky focal point. - **Immersive and Energetic:** The album has an undeniable, infectious energy that makes you feel like you're in the middle of a vibrant drum circle or Havana street carnival. It's music that demands movement. - **Cultural Significance:** It's a groundbreaking exploration of Afro-Cuban religious and musical traditions, making it an important historical document. #### **Cons** - **Lack of Melody:** The album's reliance on rhythm and chanting often comes at the expense of traditional melody, which can make it a "tough listen" for listeners accustomed to jazz standards or pop song structures. - **Monotony and Repetition:** Many critics and listeners find that the repetitive nature of the percussion and chants can become tiresome, especially on extended tracks. One review describes a "monotonous conga" feeling like the album loses its "oomph" after the first few songs. - **Inconsistent Tracks:** While tracks like "El Cumbanchero" and "Choferito-Plena" are universally praised for their lively energy, others, like "Asabache" (a near-four-and-a-half-minute conga solo), are seen as less engaging and a bit of a slog. --- ### Conclusion **Sabu Martinez's *Palo Congo* is a challenging and rewarding masterpiece.** It is an album that demands patience and an open mind, rewarding the listener with a profound and visceral experience of Afro-Cuban culture. While its lack of melody and repetitive nature may be a turn-off for some, the album's raw power, historical importance, and undeniable groove make it an essential listen for anyone interested in the roots of Latin music, jazz, and funk. It is a document of a specific time and place, a ritual captured on tape, and a testament to Martinez's vision as a bandleader and percussionist.
I like the polyrhythms and music in general, but the singing is insufferable.
kut herrie
I was picking up what Sabu was puttin' down here. Some great polyrhythms that I'm too dumb to track, but letting it wash over you made for a nice complete picture. Exploiting the cadence (and maybe form) of religious chant worked mostly in its favor, though, much like a Catholic mass, each song went on a little too long. The pure percussion is softened a bit by the bare minimum addition of the guitar, which keeps the album alive. I also think it benefited from the mix, wherein I thought I was hearing it from a different room despite having it in headphones. It suffers a bit from the aforementioned length and also from being a product of the 50s - if this album were made today I think it'd be a bit faster moving, but that's a modern complaint. I did notice the drag. This is probably a 3, but continuning my habit of overrating the surviving 50s albums, plus overrating blue note, plus overrating latin music that I don't really understand, plus overrating novelty in form, I think I gotta bump this one up.
Better than Coldplay
Super exciting record. Great drums, wild songs, good diversity. Glad I was exposed to this.
50s drums and chanting
Some solid noises???
I have no idea what any of this was about but man did I groove to some emails.
it was a good listen, but perhaps there is some bigger cultural reason for its inclusion on the list as i've heard albums like this since. unlike other 'world' entries on this list, i don't know if i would revisit it often.
pretty fun cuban rhythm album
Solid conga album
This is a fun album. You can hear the African incluence in Afro-Cuba here.
Love the instrumental but the chanting was a bit much at times
cool i guess but i would not have listened through the whole thing if I wasn't working
Well this is the 50s Cuban rumba I didn’t know I needed. It occasionally threatens to dip into free jazz, but then sees sense and settles back into hot and sweaty hypnotic rhythms.
Latin/Calypso music from nearly 70 years ago?? Jesus! This album generator better throw up something decent soon if it’s going to continue to hold my interest.
So very nearly one star on the basis of back-to-back conga solo tracks.
I was on high Jazz Alert but yeah this was cool. Need to be in a specific mood (and humidity level) for this but yeah, nice one. An good example of something I would never have found otherwise.
One or two tracks were grating and I cant help but feel my lack language skills hampered my enjoyment but still, I liked this more than I thought I would!
Knowingly being the one person to introduce thousands of people to non-Westerm music, and then choosing, among the twenty or so total picks, an album where half of the songs consist of nothing but repetitive conga solos and rhythmic shrieks... is certainly one of the choices of all time.
So far, everything I've heard from Sabu has been really good, and this is another album that I really enjoyed. It's hard for me to go into detail or give a good breakdown since I'm not too familiar with Afro-Cuban jazz, but if you like percussion, then you'll really enjoy this one.
Good. Weird. Needs another listen, I think
This album is pretty annoying. Congo drums, random yelling in Spanish, some guitar, some yodeling/chanting/singing in Spanish. Occasionally the beats were good but overall not my jam. I suppose it’s probably good for what it is but not something I’d really care to listen to. (3)
The second song sound like a classroom repeating spanish back at their teacher... For six minutes... Big fan of this style, but this album is mediocre. 3/5
Some really cook polyrythms and a great horn section. Not at all helped by the terrible early stereo split.
It's okay but I have a headache this morning and the album isn't helping.
Fantastic! Especially great on headphones.
It's always a bit of a tossup when we get very early entries (chronologically) in this collection, especially given all the technical limitations with pre-60s recording and production quality. I'm not entirely sure if that was an important factor for why this album didn't really do much for me, especially since I felt like I must have gotten a remastered edition since there seemed to be a fair amount of stereo separation; I suspect the more important aspect is just how unfamiliar I am with Cuban music styles. Sabu Martinez certainly seems like a very capable drummer, and it sounds like he gathered a very impressive crew for this album, including the apparently legendary Arsenio Rodriguez playing a whole mish-mash of instruments. I'm not sure I had any favorites, but the call-and-response in "Bilumba" and "Simba" seemed a bit more distinctive (to my untrained ear), and I was really struck at how African-sounding the drumming was in many of the tracks (especially "Bilumbra", "Asabache" and "Aggo elegua").
The first 2 tracks were great but then the call-and-response started to get to me.
I'm a little confused about this one. I mean it's fun I guess but to say you need to hear this album before you die? It's one of a few records by a minor figure in this type of music. The inclusion of this album has to be a nostalgic thing on the part of the compiler of the list. This record was fun but was very low tier Latin jazz/Afro Cuban jazz. I'd give it 2.5/5 but will probably round up because I do like this music in general and there wasn't really anything not to like about this album but I feel there should have been something else swapped in.
Not really for me. There are much better cuban folk / jazz albums.
What a lovely album.
Arthur Verocai
Super bongo percussion 2.0
Not for me.
Interesting but redundant as time wore on.
Didn't really grab me like some similar artists
Palo Congo Sabu 1957 Genres: World, Jazz Styles: Afro Cuban Jazz, Latin Jazz, Bomba, Plena 1. El Cumbanchero (★★★★★) - Contexto: Versión de un famoso clásico puertorriqueño de Rafael Hernández. Celebra la fiesta popular ("cumbancha"), el baile y la reunión comunitaria. Es la pieza más accesible del álbum y funciona como puerta de entrada al sonido afrocaribeño de Sabu. -Fav 2. Billumba–Palo Congo (★★★★☆) - Contexto: Canto ritual construido sobre patrones de llamada y respuesta. Evoca las tradiciones congoleñas presentes en Cuba y hace referencia al universo espiritual del Palo Monte. El énfasis está en el trance rítmico más que en una narrativa. 3. Choferito–Plena (★★★⯨☆) - Contexto: Adaptación de una plena puertorriqueña. La letra gira en torno a un chofer ("choferito") y escenas cotidianas con un tono humorístico y festivo, manteniendo el espíritu popular de la plena. 4. Asabache (★★★★☆) - Contexto: El "azabache" es un amuleto negro utilizado para proteger contra el mal de ojo. La pieza transmite una atmósfera ceremonial vinculada a creencias afrocaribeñas de protección espiritual. 5. Simba (★★★★☆) - Contexto: Inspirada en referencias africanas (el nombre significa "león" en suajili). Es esencialmente una celebración de la fuerza, el ritmo y la energía colectiva, con escaso contenido narrativo. -Fav 6. Rhapsodia del Maravilloso (★★★★★) - Contexto: La composición más elaborada del disco. Mezcla distintos motivos musicales e incluso introduce variaciones sobre "El Manisero". Es la pieza donde más se aprecia el talento instrumental de Arsenio Rodríguez. -Fav 7. Aggo Elegua (★★★★☆) - Contexto: Dedicada a Eleguá, una de las deidades (orishas) más importantes de la religión yoruba y la santería. Funciona como una invocación ritual, pidiendo apertura de caminos y protección. 8. Tribilín Cantore (★★★★⯨) - Contexto: Cierre festivo basado en cantos colectivos y percusión. Más que contar una historia, busca dejar al oyente inmerso en el mismo clima comunitario y ceremonial que atraviesa todo el álbum. -Fav -TOTAL = ★★★★⯨ (4,25) -Me gustó más de lo que esperaba, a más percución más me dieron ganas de convivir con una tribu, disfrutar de algún ritual del fuego que en realidad para mí sería una excusa para consumir peyote y llegar a ver hasta mi primer ancestro en una alucinación inducida. Estuve muy tentado a ponerle 5 estrellas ciertamente...
I don't hate this type of music, but this is not great. The back-up singers are terrible. The lyrics are pretty uninspired chanting. Drums are great.
It’s someone’s cup of tea, but it’s not mine
eh, not enough congo.
전통적인 느낌이 강했고, 노래는 그냥 그랬다. It had a strong traditional feel, but the song was just average.
Not enough whistles in songs these days. Thought this was a cool listen, the percussion, the call and response vocals and the jazz influences running through. Only negative thing was having flashbacks to music composition class in high school
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
kind of shocked by how low the reviews are on this one. i guess you have to have a trained ear to appreciate the rhythms here... there's not much overt melody and the vocals are distinctly latin. either you appreciate it or you don't, but it does really bother me when people call music slop just because its not their cup of tea. this was a really fun listen and i was dancing in my seat, truly deserves more unbiased ratings.
Here come the racist reviewers of 1001 Albums coming to hate on another classic albums. Too many bongos? FOH This is a fire album and the drums set it off. This feels foundation for reggaeton in terms of syncopation. It's crazy how much they fit in the pocket. The lead voices are so casual but strong. Absolute heat. Highlights: Choferito-Plena, Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso
Palo Congo definitely wasn't my thing at all. When i was going into this album i was definitely expecting something like Kenya by Machito where it would be this big band sort of album with a small Cuban touch but what i ended up getting instead was this highly Cuban sounding album with a small touch of jazz. I can definitely see what these guys were going for and they definitely do seem like solid musicians but i just feel like it got way too repetitive as nothing really that noteworthy happened in any of these songs which kinda just makes them just all blend together and feel drawn out even at 40 minutes. I can't give this album a 1 star because it wasn't the worst thing ever but this isn't something i would recommend to anyone outside of the most diehard lovers of Cuban music. Best Song: Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso Worst Song: Billumba-Palo Congo
yeah this was kind of mesmerising.
Not my thing, not bad but not great
Oh my word what is this…. It’s also hard to find anything about the album or the musical group. Although the more I listen to it, the more I can appreciate it, especially if I imagine listening to it outdoors.
new to me and a breath of fresh hair, lively, driving, rhythmic, the most interesting one for a while! ALthough best songs are all on side 1. 4.5 rounded down Heard before? No Owned: No, 93/352 (26%) Will I get: Yes
Tried to like it but really it's the sort of stuff you sit through at a festival waiting for the good stuff to come on.
gezellig
Its pretty good but not really my style. Its fun. I think a 3 star album for me. Enjoyable back ground music for me Rhapsodia del marailloso is good. I like the guitar.
Sunny afternoon in the garden music, what’s not to like
Por qué asocio este tipo de discos a procesos febriles?
this is the type of thing that would be really cool live but i just wouldn’t listen to casually
Refreshingly different, groovy
Favorite Track: Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso
Fun, light hearted and uplifting for someone who doesn’t speak the language. Still, felt quite generic to me - as most albums in this or adjacent genres does. There were some standout songs though, like “Rhapsodia del Maravilloso” for example. Overall it was a nice experience, but the songs dragged on a tad bit too long perhaps.
Was stoked for something different and I really enjoyed the first track “El Cumbanchero” with its fun rhythms and call and response. The rest of the album fell off quite a bit though.The tracks without guitar were really boring while the tracks with guitar never came to the same level as the first track. The album never delivered on the promises of the first track. Weak 3.
I'm sure it's fine, but didn't get more than two songs in cause it bored me
Me: I wish this list had more world music representation on it. Also me, when presented with world music: meh.
Some of this was a heck of a vibe. Other times it was hard to listen to. I like learning of new albums like this though, even if they don't really align with what I typically listen to. 2/5
It sounded discordant and there was too much random yelling, though parts of it were cool.
I enjoyed it. What else can I say?
A common Latin street soundtrack. You can just picture people dancing in the streets, children running about, and Sabu bring music to your ears.
Nah
Good
Not so much songs as as jam sessions. First one of its kind and the band seem to be having fun. I didnt
Jamais écouté avant. Une vraie très bonne surprise, qui plus est dans un genre que je découvre totalement, et ça fait sincèrement plaisir. Une énergie formidable, à base de polyrythmies entrelacées, métissées d'Amérique latine et d'Afrique, et d'iimpressionnantes improvisations à la guitare cubaine. Même l'enregistrement un peu crado (on est en 1957, après tout...) joue en la faveur de la musique, soulignant le son des percussions et ajoutant un grain désuet aux voix des chanteurs et chanteuses. Même les morceaux 100 % rythmiques, forcément un peu répétitifs, m'ont fait secouer la tête... Aucune idée de l'importance de cet album dans son genre, mais cette première approche m'a donné envie d'aller creuser. Top : Choferito-Plena Flop : Simba
Boring. Normally I can atleast appreciate the instrumentation or the uniqueness of the more foreign albums but this one was just not doing anything for me.
A little fun and different.
You know what? This works for me. I like the call and response style and congos are fun.
This was just too conga/rhythm heavy and not much melodic elements for me to really enjoy this. Maybe a song or too but a whole album of this was just too Much.
Just wasn’t very interesting to listen to.
It's difficult to rate these types of albums. It's so far outside my wheelhouse that I don't have much context to give a proper review. But I'll say that I found it interesting and appreciate the opportunity to hear something I wouldn't have otherwise sought out on my own.
Nja, man tröttnade lite. Det svängde men det var väl inte så intressant. Jag var inte så förtjust i panoreringen heller. Hade hoppats på mer men det blir i alla fall en trea.
Spännande
Den här skivan sammanföll med födseln av min son, och får därför automatiskt en 5a! När jag sen lyssnade igenom den en gång på BB landade jag i det verkliga betyget svag 3a. En skiva man gärna vill gilla mer men ledsnar på väldigt fort.
Lite för mycket trumpsykos men bra i stunder!
Love this. Clearly an ancestor of Buena Vista Social Club and Afro Cuban All Stars.
I appreciate this a lot but the overall enjoyment was not there
Put this on, cook up some fajitas and then somehow don't shake your hips while your tossing some chicken around in a pan with various spices, challenge level 4/5.
lots of noise
One of many great things about going through this list is that I now have a deeper understanding of world music. My biggest insight is that I don't care for it. I am the problem, this type of music in not for me.
I like rhythms and voices, but some harmonies provided by an instrument would have made this so much more enjoyable.
I don't really fuck with the weird yelling and tribal sounds in songs, but some of the jazz was good
A 1957 album by an artist called Sabu featuring a cuban chanting and ad libbing vocalist with a barely audible bass, an occasionally featured jazz electric guitar and three conga players was not a recipe for success, however this kind of album paved the way for the likes of the Buena Vista Social Club and for the time would have been both refreshing and befuddling depending on your musical sensibility at the time. The fact that its a Blue Note release gives it instant credibility despite it being somewhat limited in its variety - the polyrhythmic congas would have been influential on the auxiliary percussion featured in later rock and pop live performing and recording.
Quite good if you are into this kind of music. I give it 4.
1. cumbanchero - 3 2. congo - 2 3. choferito - 2 4. azabache - 2 5. zimba - 1 6. maravillozo - 1 7. aggo - 1 8. cantore - 2
I can picture a scenario, in a new york cub in the 50s, in which I really enjoy this. But I’m not here to rate hypotheticals.
Really cool historical snapshot of a time and place. Enjoyed it. Probably not going to put it on a lot
This is so sick.
Although I don't like the Latin/Cuban genre that much I have no legitimate grounds to criticise this. I prefer music that I can put on and be absorbed and engaged by; this is more the soundtrack to some other pastime, like dancing. So it's middle of the road ratings-wise but I would never listen to it by choice
not ma style
I just couldn't get into this at all, 1/5
I thought I'd love this, but the age of the recording meant it was very trebly and harsh to listen to. I think a modern recording would feel warmer and more enjoyable. I did like the stuff towards the end that started to feel a bit Buena Vista Social Club.
Very fine
Any sort of Cuban rhythm or jazz is for me, I'll listen to it any day
fav songs: el cumbanchero tribilin cantore i got a fever and the only prescription is more conga! 60/100
What I mean - it's five dudes in a room playing congas. There is some chanting and yelling, and occasionally there is some guitar and bass work. But overall - it's mostly hand-drums. If you're looking for something "tribal" to sample, this would be an excellent choice. Otherwise, I don't really know who this music is for. TWO STARSS
Much better than most of the jazz here.
El Cumbanchero - 3.5/5 Billumba - Palo Congo - 2.5/5 Choferito - Plena - 3/5 Asabache - 3/5 Simba - 3/5 Rhapsodia del Maravilloso - 3.5/5 Aggo Elegua - 2.5/5 Tribilín Cantore - 3/5 A decent palate-cleanser from all the other albums. I think the songs with just the congas are the least interesting, and unfortunately they are given some of the most time. I would have probably liked it better if they limited those percussion-only stuff to like 1 or 2 songs but it's a decent offering of Cuban music from the 50's. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: El Cumbanchero, Rhapsodia del Maravilloso
Palo Congo was a tough listen. Rumba and Afro-Cuban percussion-led music have never really been genres I would like or listen to. One of the great things about this challenge is that it introduces me to music I would never normally seek out, and I always try to approach those albums with an open mind. However, this is one that I struggled to get much from. While I can appreciate the musicianship and understand how impressive and influential it must have sounded in 1957, it simply didn't resonate with me as a listening experience. The percussion and performances are undoubtedly skilled, but without strong melodies or songs for me to latch onto, the album felt more like something to admire than something to enjoy. It's an important record historically, but not one I can see myself returning to. Favourite tracks: None really stood out for me Least favourite tracks: Nothing specifically, but the overall style just wasn't for me Album artwork: A striking cover that certainly catches the eye
Almost 70 years old, yet it feels utterly timeless.
Kind of irritating at points but I mostly vibed
i'm groovin!
Did not finish
A good sounding album I didn’t understand
I suppose conga music should be represented on this list but I now have had enough for my lifetime. Monotonous percussion. Repetitive lyrics. Songs that featured the tres, the stringed instrument, on Rhapsodia del Maravilloso and Tribilín cantore were better.
Banger. J'ai adoré Rhapsodia del maravilloso. L'enregistrement laisse à désirer et vu que c'est un vieil enregistrement stéréo, ils abusent sur le panning. A part ça un vrai délice. Les parties de guitare sont super entraînantes. Bref j'ai juste envie de danser en fait.
Tres cool j'adore le vintage
Great rhythms and groove, and I enjoy the call and response vocals. Gets pretty repetitive after a while though.
Это без шуток ОДИН ИЗ ЛУЧШИХ АЛЬБОМОВ во всем этом списке. А все почему? Никто не чувствует РИТМ так как эти ребята. Это просто невероятно. Такие сложные рисунки, при этом простые и понятные аранжировки. Гениальная вещь, сыгранная крайне ненапряжно и даже незамысловато, а как будто на лету. И тут даже не мешает, а, наоборот, помогает то, что стерео здесь классическое винтажное с хардпаном барабанов в левое ухо. Это невероятная атмосфера солнца, лета и танцев. Это сокрытый бриллиант.
I'm not sure what else I could have asked for, but this was too much percussion for me. I really wasn't feeling it.
I can appreciate the album being unique and out there. Definitely more of what you would expect in this list but that does not take back from the fact that it gets a bit boring after a while. All in all, despite how much of an early influence it might have been, it is far from the best display of afro-cuban music I have heard. 7/10 [SWAP]
Really hot on the bongo drums. Hey Loozie, I’m home!
Rv
This is honestly really impressive considering it predates the "classic" era of music recording. A nice left-right mix is used, placing the listener right into the thick of the performance as if they were onstage. El Cumbanchero is a solid opener, though I kind of understand why streaming numbers drop off substantially after this point. I imagine most users of Spotify/other online music streaming platforms are Westerners, and when people (myself included) listen to styles of music they aren't familiar with, a lot of it starts to sound the same. Anticipation of this fact means one or two songs is plenty to appease the average listener. To its credit, this first track has a great catchy sung hook, and some nice guitars and drumming to back it up. The same cannot be said for Billumba-Palo Congo, which sounds barren and undercooked in comparison. The singing is pretty crap – mainly consisting of a bunch of guys yelling repetitively into each of your ears – and the only distractors are a couple of simple percussive instruments. Choferito-Plena gives serious Buona Vista energy with that hurried male-female-harmonised singing. Another solid track. Asabache is pretty monotonous, being a 100% solo conga track, but I'm willing to put up with it as long as it's the only one like that. Next we have Simba, which reads (sonically) like a repeat of the previous track but with deliberately annoying, screechy vocals. And still nothing in the way of (convincing) melody or harmony. A filler track if I've ever heard one. Then Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso jumps in with a vengeance. Some decent guitar lines for an almost-5-minute (quasi-)solo piece. Pretty good. Aggo Elegua... eh. Not so good. Exceptionally repetitive. They're not even trying to hide it. The same couple of bars of call-and-response melody over and over... and over... We end with the messy but pleasant enough Tribilin Cantore, another likely inspiration for BVSC. 2/5 Key tracks: El Cumbanchero, Choferito-Plena
Heavy with the Congo drums throughout the album. It’s bare bones. 2.5/5.0
muuuuito massa as misturas de ritmos cubanos-porto riquenhos-caribenos. 3,5
Album #112, Palo Congo by Sabu Martinez ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve been pretty harsh on Latin and South American music so far on this list. I feel like I’ve had a lot of it already. I listened to Siembra, which people call the greatest salsa album ever made, and it did absolutely nothing for me. I gave it two stars. That whole style just doesn’t really connect with me. Now obviously Latin and South American music are enormous umbrellas, and it would be ignorant to assume I’d dislike all of it. Turns out, whatever Cuban rumba is, it’s fucking awesome. This 1957 album is primal. It’s incessant. It’s rhythm on top of rhythm on top of rhythm. The vocals are frenzied, the percussion is completely relentless, and when the electric guitar comes in, it’s so syncopated that it almost sounds like a mistake. The songs are long and they really dig their hooks in. I’m an absolute sucker for any kind of music where the drums are the main instrument, and that’s this album in a nutshell. The percussion completely dominates the mix. Behind it you’ve got these wailing, chaotic chants and vocals that just make the whole thing sound wild and ritualistic despite also being incredibly minimal. I don’t really have much of a point of reference for this music outside of Fela Kuti, because this definitely feels deeply rooted in African rhythms, which I love. Other than that, my only comparisons are the other Latin albums I’ve heard from this list, stuff like Buena Vista Social Club or Jorge Ben. This absolutely blows those records out of the water for me personally. I rolled my eyes when this came up in the generator this morning. They rolled right back around into a five star review.
Bit odd but reallyyyy it wasn’t too terrible kinda catchy but most of it I probably wouldn’t listen to again. Top three: El Cumbanchero, Billumba-Palo Congo, Choferito-Plena
ok def not my genre, so prob wont listen the whole album but i will try to appreciate it the sound is of course i guess ok, some of the songs are ritualistic, i don't know i mean as cultural anthropological thing or study is nice but for the musical artistry im not sure about that. 1/5
Very solid album, super funky and very percussive. I this didn't blow me away, but it was still a very good album. Mid 4.
nicht meins
the most pleasant background music ever
Not my taste
Lots of bongos, banging and screaming but still better than the 300+ alt-rock albums I've been listening to!
Jeg blev super overrasket over hvor gammel den er. Stor 3, jeg nød det
Føles både forud for sin tid og som noget man kunne have hørt for 400 år siden
Good congo vibes!
It's like proto-bossa nova. It was hard to tell when this was recorded. Music like this is better live in a place where it's hot and humid, people are dancing, people are eating, and people are drinking. I didn't want to listen to this in my office while I was working. It felt out of place or I felt out of place because it's not the music's fault no one dances or drinks or has parties anymore.
Started it, was nice, didn’t get to finish it though so will revisit at some point
I'd give it more stars on a weekend - it has the wrong rhythm to work to!
Honestly not too bad for background music
I feel like this is the punishment dished out to all those people who said this list is too western, and too pop and rock. Surely there’s world music out there that was influential which wasn’t this. Please give us that instead.
This was fun. Not really my genre, but I was bobbing my head to the groovy rhythms and neat call/response stuff. I probably wouldn't listen to it again, but the energy was very contagious. Three stars.
Not sure but it’s old and a milestone k guess
Fun sounds
Excellent African music. Like all Afican music, it's very repetative, without enough breaks for me. 3/5
Nice discovery and rhythm, but unfortunately the tracks become repetitive quickly.
Spectacular rhythms, great arrangements. If it were recorded today, it would still be a tour de force
I liked it, but it became very repetitive
I thought this was solid. Buenas tardes! Buenas noches!
Isolating the vocals to just the right audio speaker on several tracks completely detracts from the experience, especially when listening to this in a car where it sounds terrible. 3-stars with a single speaker 2-stars with headphones 1-star listening in a car
wirklich cool aber ein bissi zu roh für mich.
I recognized El Cumbanchero, and definitely that version…I wish I knew from what! Fun album.
5/5, this is non stop fun, from start to finish. Minimal in terms of instruments used, but so full and fun.
Surprisingly African in its vibe and loose energy, though I could guess that's part of a Cuban sound, not being familiar with the history and connections of this kind of music. A wild ride of mostly percussion, polyrhythms and chanted vocals, it has a freneticism that is contagious. Despite not being the kind of genre I'll come back to regularly, I'm really glad to have heard it and had my horizons expanded.
It felt a bit samey, I played it in the office and the conclusion was tthat we were at some kind of ceremony.
My life isn't long enough that I absolutely had to hear that before I die. I would have been just fine without that experience. 1/5
There probably is depth to it but I really can't hear it
Well, that was, uhhh, interesting. Lots of banging and sound making.
Bona noche Kaiiiip jis priskiriamas prie geriausiu albumu ever 🥸
My name is Cuban Pete. I'm the king of the rumba beat.
Fun enough
3 out of 5. Bring on the conga drums!
it's fine, sure
5/10
“Palo Congo” slams. Heard on a sunny day, which this made brighter. The repetition, the breaks and glory in micro-variation brings to mind Can and minimalist techno. The reverb on “Chorerito-Plena” lit up my skull” - this is sympathetically recorded, live, clear enough to imagine the room vibrating when they played, could’ve been yesterday. The guitar/tres playing is outstanding, looking across to Link Wray and forward to post-punk.
Bongo mania. Some neat guitar parts but quite irritating over the long run.
I had no idea what this was, but when I saw the cover my first thought was “buckle up, this will be an interesting ride”. And I was right. This was good. A nice break from UK-centric rock and electronic.
Real fun and full of little twists I didn’t see coming. Will have to check out more.
Ooooo, yeah. This was pretty, pretty good.
I really thought I would like this. I really like Cuban music, and I think this would be really fun to hear in person. But, the combination of being a studio recording with very distracting stereo and a small ensemble made this not an enjoyable listen for me. I feel like this type of music works better the more people that are involved. I just pictured a sad studio and these musicians doing the best they could but not being able to replicate the energy that this would have in a club. I am probably projecting completely incorrect circumstances, but I didn't like this.
What a banger of a conga album. The 1 star ratings are wild, and somehow not surprising considering who 90% of the albums on this list cater to.
Lots of bongos, not a lot of English, and most songs sound the same. 3 stars
I like that this album is on the list. I never would have known about it. It wasn’t my favorite, but I appreciate hearing something new
Veel vibe, weinig lied
Haven't heard of him. Was excited to listen to something brand new but I think this just isn't for me. Interesting but not for me 2/5
Que bueno encontrar otros ritmos y más en ESPAÑOL. Lamentablemente no me gustó tanto
The Good: Congo Sticks rule! The Bad: Realizing that you don’t play the congos using sticks… The Ugly: Getting repetitive strain injuries from too much congo… This was what it was. Let me ask this question; why is it called Cuban Jazz? What the hell does this have to do with jazz? It’s just some congos and back and forth yelling… World music, some times, should just be skipped… Will give it 2* for effort
This is SICK! Whoever says it's a hard listen is trying to listen too hard, just relax and be with it.
🤩
Fun and outside my usual musical type.
Not for me 1/5
It's incredibly hard to connect on a relatable level, or even many levels at all, to music that is not in your native language; therefore, I didn't know what each song was about, so there was no real meaning to me behind what I was listening to. So it feels harsh for me to be giving this two stars when I can't listen to the album the way this artist intended me to, however this rating is of my own personal listening experience, and it is just the way I feel... if I can't connect to the music that I am listening to, I find it much harder to enjoy or find any real meaning. That aside, I enjoyed the styles of instrumentation throughout; it was very danceable and kept a solid groove throughout the entire album. There is nothing inherently 'wrong' with this album, but this is just how I felt listening to it. Although it was easy to sit back and just let the music play. There were no tracks that really stood out to me or felt 'better' than any other.
Perfect for the sunshine
Not sure how much I'd revisit it but I had a great time while it was on
Takie na 3. Ani porywające, ani odrzucające, ale fajnie się słuchało. Momentami monotonne, tak może by było 3,5.
Terrible
If you like the Congo sound then this is for you
a bit too redundant on the bongos, but there’s a couple gems in here. seems like a key component to the mainstream latin jazz that came after
If there’s going to be albums like this on this list, why isn’t there classical music? This album makes me daydream that I’m a farmer of coffee beans.
Very nice. Congos and bongos for days. Heavy percussion has been doing it for me lately and it's the standout part of this album for me. Really enjoyed the music and the vibes. This album furthers my belief that this list needs more world music.
Nice
7 / 10
Painful
Pretty awesome for 1957. Great percussion and strings. But very long tracks of meandering solos or repetitive vocals make it a tougher listen.
Nah
ich mag das instrument nicht und das genre nicht und finds mega anstrengend
Bei dem Album kommt es definitiv auf das Setting an. Wenn ich es mir mit Freunden in einer Kneipe anhören würde wäre es seltsam. Aber draußen beim laufen in der Sonne war es genial. Gibt genau den richtigen Takt vor.
Eigentlich ziemlich cool, aber es treibt auch in den Wahnsinn
Full body high putting this on at night around the house
would buy
Kind of got into the hypnotic nature of it. Won't stick it on when my mum visits though.
What a previous person said, nice to hear some change in the list, a breath of fresh air. However, it's a bit too harsh and too repetitive this wind. Can't say I really enjoyed listening to this.
Le plus viel album à date que j'ai écouter ici. Sortit en 1957, l'artiste Sabu a produit Palo Congo. Ce que j'ai à dire de ça ? J'ai jamais entendu un gars qui jouais du djembe être autant dedans que lui ! Un bon album de Latin Jazz qui s'écoute vraiment tout seul.
High quality latin jazz/mambo
What a wild listen! Sometimes strange and mysterious sounding, other times nice and pleasant. Lots of great guitar playing here on top of solid congas and percussion as well as on top of a steady but tricky off-beat string bass. The interspersed vocals and harmonies are great coming in here and there. This was a nice surprise of a listen and just shows how much great music is out there from other countries and from so many years ago!
i was vibing but i wouldn’t listen to again
I liked this. The Cuban rhythms were pretty catchy. The catch was not much really hooked me in. It was nice background music while I cooked dinner
Me gustó porque me recuerda a la Capoeira
I hope someone enjoyed this. I didn't.
Banqué mucho que me pongan un disco latino en esta aplicación de mierda, dentro de puro disco yanqui viejo del orto
Immediately transported to a caribbean beach. There's heavy cigar smoke in the air, cold rum in my hand, and these dudes playing nearby. Not right in front of you, maybe behind you? The mix is a little off, but you can still enjoy it just fine.
Loved hearing something other than britpop or 60's hippie rock. Reminded me of being in Miami. I listened to this on the way to work, and I was afraid that they were going to summon an ancient African god into the back seat of my car. Still an awesome experience, glad it's on the list. My Rating: 5/5
This is not for me but I can appreciate it! 2.5 stars rounded up.
I'm not into this at all.
Number: 103 Date: 04/15/2026 Artist: Sabu Album: Palo Congo Year: 1957 Genre: Afro Cuban Jazz Rating: 2 Notes: Before: ======= New to me. Maybe it'll give me something to put on my best of 1957 playlist, if I ever get around to making it. During: ======= 3 El Cumbanchero 1 Billumba-Palo Congo 3 Choferito-Plena 2 Asabache 2 Simba 3 Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso 2 Aggo Elegua 3 Tribilin Cantore ----------------------------------------------------- 2.33 WEIGHTED AVERAGE (accounts for song lengths) After : ======= I suppose this album is a good representation of this type of music but what do I know? I did not really care for it. 2 my personal rating 4 suitability for this list 5 impact ----------------------------------------------- 3.7 composite rating
As a fan of polyrhythms and quick percussion, it's hard for me to not get at least a little enjoyment from an album that's centered on those things. The congos are the star here, and on some tracks there's nothing but congos. While those tracks and the ones with only call-and-response vocals over the top are interesting, it's also hard to not want at least a bit more over their long runtimes. "Choferito-Plena" and a few other songs add jazzy, staccato guitar over the top, which fleshes things out but also fails to add any sense of progression to the songs. I imagine this would be a blast in a live setting, maybe played by street performers. I don't think the recorded version captures the energy well enough, and listening to the entire thing highlights the lack of variety. The performances are great, but it doesn't quite work in a casual setting.
Wasn't familiar with this album or artist. Amazing that Blue Note had this in their early ranks. Some conga solo songs, some other classic cuban rumba. Sabú's leadership shines on all the album, never a dull moment even though most of the run time is conga driven. The sessions sound like the players were having a lot of fun recording it.
An interesting album that I will never think about ever again.
Konnte ich leider gar nichts mit anfangen.
Nee, nicht wirklich
Super, dass solche Sachen in der Liste sind, die angesichts meiner Hörgewohnheiten herausfordernd sind. Finde ich schwer zu bewerten.
Not sure this will make the regular rotation, but very cool album nonetheless. Production was stellar!
Interesting.
Interesting listen. Not an artist, album, or genre I'm familiar with at all. I had never heard of Sabu but his story is fascinating. This sounds exactly like something I would expect to hear at Big Ears and enjoy.
Each song begins great then you realize you're about to listen to the same lyrics or instrument pattern for the rest of the 5 minutes. Every song does this.
Interesting
Очень необычно, но так драйвово
I got nothin. Favorite track: Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso
Prettyngood
2.3 2x interesting but not going to listen again
Okay take this with a grain of salt. I mean, I just some dumb old Midwesterner. But I still know music. I even know world music. Not a lot, but I'm no slouch. I'm just saying that of all the Spanish language albums to feature in this project, this album was chosen? This one? I guess I'm surprised considering ALL the legends this dude played with as a sideman. Sabu has the skills. I just didn't dig the material.
Pretty interesting
Interesting stuff, never really listened to this genre before. I don't think it's bad but I don't really think I'd listen to it again either.
The variety is nice, not really a genre I've ever listened to
Almost a 4. Mixing brings it down a little, but awesome album!
great to know about, solid but not the most impressive listen. fuck the awful stereo mix tho
terrible
Another style of music that works well live but not so much when you're sitting down at a desk with some headphones on.
Nice vibe, world music + jazz is always cool. A bit inaccessible to me
The drumming is certainly skilled but it is not a good listening experience. This is an album that should be experienced live or not at all
Not really my thing but it is cool to be listening to something almost 70 years old
unreal. If it wasn't for the poor recording quality this would be generational. I'll look out for it on Vinyl
I guess it’s a cool one time listen but I never see myself coming back to this
what the hell this is so fun
RHAPSODIA DEL MARAVILLOSO was a groovy number, as was the rest of the album. Plays like a soundtrack to a movie, that while entertaining, not easy to discern from one song to the next.
Not memorable
Cuban rumba but also bossa nova sounding to me. Oye Como Va has just been stuck in my head for weeks
any of these foreign or jazz albums becomes an amalgamation to me. i generally like them enough but almost in a completely different rubrick to western rock or pop music. more like "this is fun to put on but i can't differentiate any of it" and it could be a playlist for all i know
I am a sucker for Caribbean percussion and salsa and etc. I really loved the percussion and the profound guitar. Not so much the irritating vocals. So some whiplash between a 4 and 3, which means 3.
Not usually my thing, but sure and the drumming is good and it’s good background music for doing chores.
As a conga player, I feel like I should like this more. The call and response formula grew tired real early, and there wasn't enough of anything else to reel me in. Also, the shouting singing style works for a song or two, but another element of the formula that wore thin quick.
My feelings vacillated throughout this, at times I thought it was a brilliant combination of world musics with an almost punk edge to it. Other times I got a little bored by it. But when I allowed myself to just give in to the experience, I found it pretty mystical and unlike anything else I've heard. So I'm going with a four.
A little goes a long way.
American but sounds kind of african
The recording of this album is trash boy. It’s all highs. The bongos or whatever you choose to call them are too drowned out. I thought this was a live album. It really is hard to get a good judgement on the album as a whole when the production quality is so bad. I don’t know whose fault that is but it makes it unlistenable. What I could draw out of the album was that it could be decent given the right amount of work put into it. I feel bad but this is a fail.
I'm more of a tune than a rhythm guy so some of the more percussion heavy tracks were a bit of an ordeal and I was hovering towards a low score but when it swung a bit more I enjoyed parts of this.
First song is amazing
interesting but found repetitive at times. enjoyed overall but probably wouldn't listen to many times more
This album was fun, but it got a little repetitive in the end. I like hearing albums like this that I’ll never really listen to otherwise, but I’m not sure I need to listen to this again.
65
It's good. Not my kind of music or something I would ever listen to in my spare time, but I had my hips moving a lil bit.
How is this part of the top 1001 albums.
I guess I'm glad I listened to this once and never again. I don't know anything about this artist, but they were singing in Spanish. the music was very danceable. This album is very reminiscent of a music history class that I took in college that I had completely forgotten about. this artist has 2,000 monthly listeners. I wonder how the list's author even heard of this album. Probably from their college music history class.
Not bad, though could do with less speaking on the tracks.
I had a difficult time getting into this. The congas just faded into the background for me. There are some interesting guitar parts on here though. Overall, it's fine and not something I would consider revisiting. It didn't make my butt shake enough and some of the yelling/singing was a bit grating to me. I found some of the other albums close to/in this genre to be more interesting. I would not doubt this is a fun artist to hear live but the joy didn't cross over to the recording for me.
I like the energy I just wish there were more actual songs.
More of this please! This is what I signed up for: world music with power and grit, something I never would’ve discovered without this. Gimme more
An enjoyable listen.
I have a hard time deciding what to think about this one. One the one hand, the beats are repetitive and the vocals border on annoying. On the other hand, the music is very atmospheric and carries the relaxing vibe of Cuban music. So while I can understand why others don't like it as much, I was really having fun with this one. Best songs are Aggo Elegua and Tribilin Cantore. 5/10, I am a real fence sitter on this one.
Just not my thing, but not bad. Respect the beats!
My first thought upon seeing today's album was "at least it's not another horrible metal album" as I was bludgeoned by Slayer yesterday. This assuredly was not metal. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this record. I found it enjoyable to listen to, but it paled in comparison to an album I got last week, Stan Getz' Jazz Samba. It feels icky to say that, as that one had the feel of cultural misappropriation and this one is the real deal. As I was listening today I also thought of Paul Simon and his use of congas on his two "international" albums. And yes, I love both of those very much. So all of that to say I have mixed feelings about this record, and most of that is because of my own cultural biases and preferences. Ugh. Not what I was looking for this morning. There were songs that stood out and I will save to my playlist, and they include Billumba-Palo Congo, Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso, and Aggo Elegua. I will have difficultly rating this tomorrow morning...