Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Outstanding Latin jazz - might rival “the one…”
So different from what I'd usually listen to. Liked more than I didn't.
Won’t lie, never listened to a Congo album, but damn I’m glad I did.
Surprisingly good to work out to, though I’m not sure how much I’d enjoy this album in any other context. Years of listening to “Drums/Space” against my will prepared me for this moment I think. The guitar on “Rhapsodia” was nice.
Totally not music I listen to but it was an enjoyable listen.
This was some very fun stuff, fuse those rhythms straight into my bones baby
Eens iets anders. Wel heel leuk. Erg traditioneel
I like how the rhythmic ideas was the main focus of the album.
okay it was interesting experience
Great to see what Sabu was up to 35 years or so before he started regularly throwing himself through stuff from great heights on EC Dub. Turns out he was ace at the congas and bongos. Multi talented guy. Anyway I love stuff like Ray Baretto and Blue Note in general so I was open to this. Have to be honest I did prefer the ones with guitar accompaniment, but the one that were simply absolutely banging bongos with chanting were a jam as well.
Purely emotional. So refreshing.
Loved the drums on this record
I'm always amazed at listening to recordings done that far back and earlier. Some sound dated, and some sound timeless. This was a bit of a mix really. It wasn't until maybe the last song or two that I felt the weight of the years come rushing into the recording itself. Afro-Cuban music is not something I am familiar with, but the energy from this gives me a great impression. The yips were a bit annoying, but that was just them getting into the music, so it's forgivable. The instrumentation was very interesting. Very percussive, which at times drowned out the other instruments. But they were the most important part of the band here... All in all, I liked this album quite a lot. The last song or two was okay, but I felt the production really made you feel that the album was as old as it is. But I might be nitpicking here a bit...
4 stars, good grooves.
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.
Fantastic music! I love the exposure to other culture's music that this challenge has brought me. Very 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.
nice, especially "Billumba-Palo Congo".
Really loved the sounds on this one. Dig me some good percussion.
Slaps?????? 4.2/5
I enjoyed this jazz record. Yep.
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.
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've never thought I needed a freaking conga driven Cuban rumba for my morning but here we are.
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
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.
Very cool texture. Never listened to Cubop, but I should. 4 stars
Yeah this one was good at times
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.
Enjoyable blue note jazz, works music stuff.
Love the exotic sound. Would love to mix the songs with some house beatc
Loved it. It was melodic and repetitive and chaotic.
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.
pretty interesting mix
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: El Cumbanchero
They are great.
Interesting
Fun latin/world!
CRIOLLO BUENOS DIAS!
Kind of slow towards the end of the album but makes great easy listening
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.
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
Just a nice and good time. Some killer drum work. This Sabu fellow has an interesting pedigree. I like it!
Very fun album! Hard not to dance. Very very raw though.
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"
good but unremarkable afro-jazz. I enjoyed it.
It's hard to believe this came out in the 50s. It seems ahead of it's time.
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.
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
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.
Definitely raised my mood
Pretty great Cuban music.
transported back to Africa
Liked it, but have to be in the mood
Kubanska salsa ili rumba je uvijek ima rezervirano mjesto u mojim u ušima.
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.
Good music that must have been very unusual to the American ear when it was first released
Great beats! Very inventive. I loved the song Simba.
Fux
Very catchy rhythms and chants, with the additional instrumentation supplementing them well
gang
interesting
Nice tunes. A great album.
Big fan!! ONLY four because I don't know Spanish that well. Such good music production/lighthearted tunes.
Groovy beats. 8
Made me do a little jig
Spanish bongo music. Fun listen
Classic and cool
Very fun! man can drum, and the singing was fun but maybe a bit repetitive
Salsaaaa
Großartig! Solch spröde Instrumentierung und solch tiefes Verständnis von Trance. Liebe das einfach und unmittelbar mal ganz ohne theoretische Verirrung 4.4
Great listen. Tons of fun.
Gets me hyped! Cool to know he started mambo
Delightful. Will definitely dip back into this album when I need something of this flavor
Pretty great. I didnt really like other cuban inspired albums (buena vista social club), but I found this one a lot more interesting.
Makes sense that this isn't received well here but I've heard enough African/African influenced music to appreciate this, there's much better Afro-Cuban records out there but this is still beautifully recorded, very good rhythms
Finally some jazz conga drumming for drummer/percussionists like myself! A very chill album. While I respect albums like this, I expect that the axeheads and hipsters in here will denigrate this album. Faves: "Billumba-Palo Conga", "Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso", and "Tribillin Cantore" When I think of essential albums in the Western musical canon, I think of albums like this that were not only enjoyed from the time, but really put a marker down that sparked ideas in the musicians to come. With out the Cuban Jazz/Pop of Sabu, do we get the wonderful music of Miami Sound Machine/Gloria Estefan? Speaking of, not having MSM or Estefan on the list is a musical crime. There are plenty of not really noteworthy English bullshit (Orange Juice and Haircut 100 I'm looking at you) from the 80s that could be kicked to the curb to make room for a much better list.
This is a bongo jam band. Could be better. Could be worse.
This is great - lots of fun.
Really fun listen but the extended congo sections got monotonous.
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.
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”
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.
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.
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
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.
# 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.
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
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
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!
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.
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.
What a lovely album.
Arthur Verocai
Not for me.
Interesting but redundant as time wore on.
Didn't really grab me like some similar artists
eh, not enough congo.
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
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.
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?
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.
Good
A little fun and different.
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
Lite för mycket trumpsykos men bra i stunder!
I like rhythms and voices, but some harmonies provided by an instrument would have made this so much more enjoyable.
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.
Really cool historical snapshot of a time and place. Enjoyed it. Probably not going to put it on a lot
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
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.
fav songs: el cumbanchero tribilin cantore i got a fever and the only prescription is more conga! 60/100
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
Kind of irritating at points but I mostly vibed
A good sounding album I didn’t understand
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.
Great rhythms and groove, and I enjoy the call and response vocals. Gets pretty repetitive after a while though.
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.
Rv
muuuuito massa as misturas de ritmos cubanos-porto riquenhos-caribenos. 3,5
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
the most pleasant background music ever
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!
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
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
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.
I liked it, but it became very repetitive
I thought this was solid. Buenas tardes! Buenas noches!
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.
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.
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
Lots of bongos, not a lot of English, and most songs sound the same. 3 stars
Veel vibe, weinig lied
Que bueno encontrar otros ritmos y más en ESPAÑOL. Lamentablemente no me gustó tanto
Fun and outside my usual musical type.
Takie na 3. Ani porywające, ani odrzucające, ale fajnie się słuchało. Momentami monotonne, tak może by było 3,5.
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.
Nice
7 / 10
Pretty awesome for 1957. Great percussion and strings. But very long tracks of meandering solos or repetitive vocals make it a tougher listen.
Eigentlich ziemlich cool, aber es treibt auch in den Wahnsinn
would buy
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.
Me gustó porque me recuerda a la Capoeira
Super, dass solche Sachen in der Liste sind, die angesichts meiner Hörgewohnheiten herausfordernd sind. Finde ich schwer zu bewerten.
Interesting.
Interesting
I got nothin. Favorite track: Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso
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
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
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.
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.
A little goes a long way.
American but sounds kind of african
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.
Not bad, though could do with less speaking on the tracks.
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.
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...
A nice retro listen. Definitely rhythmic…
Hypnotic samba, conga, and other tribal rhythms, like afro-cuban. Too much bongoes and drums! Not for everyone.
I enjoyed the rhythms. The Congo is a cool instrument in my book I’ve been playing a lot of a few Sid Meier’s Civilization games recently, and this reminded me of the early tribal music used in those games
Was surprisingly listenable. I find sometimes this type of music can become repetitive and get under your skin but it did not reach that level. I liked listening to it but not enough to go back.
It was fine.
There's a lot of banging on this.
2.5 rounding up
Blue note in the 50s is always good
Percussive and passionate. Fun, but probably not an all the time listen. Had this on late at night, which didn’t fit with winding down for bed, but it could be cool. Definitely a lot of noise, shouting and drumming at times but it felt passionate Highlight: Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso From Musicboard (OG 1/13/26 [#21] Imported 2/26/26)
Lots of call and response, quite a fun album.
De erst Track isch no nice gsi. Ha viel weniger erwarted gha vom Album
Groovy and upbeat, good for background music but maybe not a main course.
Very enjoyable.
Really cool example of what I want from the list. I wouldn't say I liked it in the way I normally like music, but it was neat and interesting and felt like it would be foundational to a lot of Latin stuff. Maybe it's also the novelty.
Kinda cool, a little repetitive.
Interesting, just not something I see myself revisiting all too often
I was surprised that I really wasn't blown away by this album. Kind of just okay but not overwhelmed/blown away. And I really did not like Asabache/Simba/Aggo Elegua, which were just banal. That being said, I did love Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso. 3 dipping stars.
Certainly Conga
Enjoyed the rhythm of the songs but didn't find them to be differentiated much, but did like the sound it had
Well the bongos were great. But most of the album didnt speak to me i guess.
One of those records that you're never going to find out about without signing up to this project. I particularly liked Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso.
This was kinda fun, whole album was just giving me the vibe of this emoji: 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻
The percussion only bits get a bit tiresome but combined with the guitar work and call and response vocals are pure joy. Favorite: tribilin cantore
Tror aldri jeg har hørt så mye congas i mitt liv.
Honestly, fun. I like the rawness of so-called world music... not for a whole album though.
for real
That is a LOT of conga.
Good Latin groove
I don't know a damn thing about rumba music, but this was enjoyable.
It’s cool
Lente mot en 4er etter å hørt den på jobb, men etter å hørt den på nytt hjemme er den nærmere en 2er
Starte jo så jævlig bra. Like det her. Ti minutt med trommesolo i midten e ødeleggende.
108/1001 First listen. Something out of the ordinary. So far removed from the usual listen I don’t know how to rate this. The vocals aren’t blowing me away but this has got a vibe. Maybe in a couple years when I’m done with the 1001 I’ll check back in on this. 5/10
I get down with it. Fun beats and vibe.
I'm very partial to latin rhythms. This album was more of the same in respect of my recent experiences working through this list. Nothing great, nothing terrible. No need to turn it off before the end, no desire to ever listen to it again. A classic 3 stars really.
vai että sambaa. Toisinsanoen sambarumpua ja laulua, suureksi osaksi. Alkuasukassaundit ovat vahvassa. Ei oma leipä purtavaksi mutta mahtavaa että tällaisiakin on tällä listalla!
A bit more fun than expected for a Wednesday morning.
Can definitely hear the influence on or by early rock - perhaps both. Good, but not enough for a higher score.
Music's fun. Vocals aren't great.
I feel like this would be really fun to listen to live and dance to
It's alright. Don't mind it
For me, each of these tracks is great but an album of them after I've been working all day is a bit too intense. I guess as some background music, this would be perfect but as something to actively listen to, it's tiring for me.
It can certainly get a little repetitive at times, but I can't say it wasn't a fun listen.
I want to say I enjoyed this album, I really do. The music was great, but the call and response just seemed very repetitive after a little while, especially not knowing why they’re saying. Check your pulse of Latin jazz doesn’t make your body move though!
I’d dance to this in a bar but I can’t say I’d listen to it more casually.
Louis “Sabu” Martinez earnt his spurs as a percussionist in Dizzy Gillespie’s Orchestra in the late 1940s. His 1957 album Palo Congo was his first as bandleader, and it’s a ride, a terrific mix of driving Afro-Cuban drumming, primal chants, Santeria prayer and irresistible grooves - which feel like they directly link back to ancient roots. To be honest, I’ve no idea how to contextualize Palo Congo. Is it a unique jazz record? Was there a huge wave of wild Latin jazz in the late 50s that I haven’t heard about? I’ve no idea, but what I hear I like, and that’s probably enough. 7/10
Happy to hear more international music on this list. Snappy and bright, a fun groove.
I don’t know anything about the genre, so I can’t talk from an area of expertise, but it was pleasant background music.
Great party album, but not sure I'd listen to it outside of that
Africa. Rhythm. Drums. Nice
I loved the passionate spoken word at the beginning of Billumba-Palo Congo. Interesting to hear some Cuban conga, it’s not something I would have easily stumbled upon otherwise. Overall I had favourable opinions towards this album, although it got a bit samey after a while.
Latin
What kept it interesting was the language
enjoyed the listen & energy; however, some tracks did lag a bit. still it was an overall good listen
Very fun! Parts of it were a bit of a grind, but I do love how much they did with a few simple sounds. Recovering from surgery at the moment, I cannot get up and dance, but I sure wanted to.
This is a tough one. The highs are great, the lows are low. I love Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso and I don't mind the call & response and such, but when it devolves into yelling... it's no longer interesting to listen to, it becomes a literal pain. El Cumbanchere: Great! Billumba-Palo Congo: eh... Choferito-Plena: okaaay! Asabache: Nice! Simba: No. A whistle? Why? Just get out. I, too, can tap on something metal. No. Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso: Fantastic! Aggo Elegua: Probably fun if you were there. Tribilin Cantore: It's fine. The female vocalist reminds me of one of the songs in West Side Story; good and bad. The guitar is strong in this one. So... that seems to math out into a three?
Favorite Track: Asabache
Upbeat album, fun. 3/5
Good
This is an album where I can tell they are good at what they do but I don't think I could tell a difference between them and another conguero. I don't think I'd listen to this again but I am glad I heard it.
Never heard anything quite like this before. So that’s a win I guess! May not revisit but nothing wrong here
Enjoyed this - good energy
2.5
2.5
3.5
I listen to this several years back when I tried to listen to the 1001 front to back. I'm going to keep doubling down on the three stars it is actually to me not that bad and I don't get where people don't hear the influence on on things like Santana or any kind of Latin polyrhythms that are put in rock especially during the late '60s and throughout the seventies jam band ideals. Even on Chicago's debut at the end of the song Beginnings there is a Latin polyrhythm percussion solo. I will have to say that some of the pure percussion tracks on there which there are only two I really couldn't get into but it's usually when the music and the polyrhythms are working together that I just find this at times exciting . It does go on a little bit long for this type of music because this is not a genre I would listen to as a whole. But I will say at least the opening the closing tracks are really good and there's a couple of tracks sparse throughout that I think really show off the enthusiasm of the players. (6.6) ★★★
Too much percussion! 3 stars
Funky and refreshing
Quirky and fun record. Would have been more fun to listen to with a margarita in hand instead of my coffee this AM but here we are!
Stereo imaging was really cool on this album, but not really my style. Strong 2.5
some good parts but I couldn't really get into this, some parts just a little too basic and repetitive for me
Another interesting world album, this one heavy on the bongos(?) and call-and-response chanting, with some cool electric guitar on some tracks. It did get a little repetitive, but it served well as background music while working on some reports. 3.5
Lots of drama.
The reviews made me think that this would be terrible. I quite liked it!
Enjoyed, not memorable.
That's a lot of bongosof, but it's fun.
it was ok
Sabu no era ningún advenedizo, había estado con Dizzy Gillespie y Benny Goodman, y aquí con otro legendario como Arsenio Rodríguez (creador de temazos como Bruca maniguá). Bilumba-Palo Congo o Simba tienden un puente entre Cuba y África mucho antes de que Stevie Wonder, y luego en los 90 retomaran ese camino (más estético que otra cosa en este último caso). La inicial el Cumbanchero o Rhapsodia del maravilloso son inicios del mejor son ( esta última con notas de Maní). Fiesta para todos los sentidos.
Fun groovy record
Nice background music
Listening to this while in a hospital.
Excellent, 1950’s yet still sounds fresh could have been released at any time. Bit of a gem.
Interesting. Good background music
Pretty cool
Couple of cool tracks.
Dancey and repetitive. At times I grew weary of the repetitiveness, but overall, not a bad album to listen and dance to.
Backyard Cuban / Puerto Rican parties
I enjoyed this well enough, but it left no lasting impression.
Surprised to see quite so many low reviews. Fun to listen to such different music and whilst it is a lot of percussion, the guitar parts are great and the chanting is pretty hypnotising. Fun listen 6/10
Very enjoyable.