Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Not my favorite genre, but it is fun! 3/5
As far as jazz goes this was pretty good and engaging but I have a hard time fully enjoying something that doesn’t have any lyrics
Итс окэй. Ровно то, чего ожидаешь от описания. Лучшая песня - Congo Mulence.
Pretty good. I feel that its sound is more Central American than Kenyan (as another reviewer pointed out), but the jazz elements are fairly strong. The improvisation is skilled, as is the technical ability in the drums, trumpets, and other horns. The tracks I could really jive to were ones that had distinct, easy-to-remember/-sing melodic hooks – including Holiday and Wild Jungle. Others were less commercial, having complex rhythms and a (perhaps) overwhelming number of sax/horn notes spilling out all at once. The compositions are impressive in this regard, but they aren't necessarily enjoyable. Unlike most other genres, jazz typically needs long track runtimes, both for development of themes and allowing chances for soloists to shine. I feel there are dozens of missed opportunities throughout this album for the solos (particularly with the trumpet) to really gain momentum. Instead, the tracks flash by in 3-minute chunks. It's a puzzling choice. There are also so many indistinct melodic themes presented in quick succession that it starts to blend together around the halfway point. Punk albums, being comprised of similarly "quickfire" tracks, tend to have a similar problem. 3/5 Key tracks: Wild Jungle, Kenya, Holiday
It's alright, but this is an album where it feels like something is missing—not in the music per se, but in the experience as a whole—like there's meant to be a silent film or tactile activity accompanying it. Like I'd love this at a restaurant on a night out in the city! I'd say that's a general feeling I hold toward most big-band music. Obviously, this was released in the late '50s and it does have some interesting percussive elements to give it that rhumba edge - but still, I can't say it does very much for me. I did like the break on 'Cannonology' and the opening minutes of 'Frenzy'. The latter may be my favorite song just because of the percussive diversity in the breakdown portions - it all sounds so fiery. Horn-wise, I love the smooth and delicate nature of the song 'Tin Tin Deo' the most. The musicianship is there, it's grand, and it takes me places - but I found myself enjoying the percussion a lot while wishing the big-band horn and jazzy elements were a bit more varied and interesting.
A good sounding and fun big band, but it was pretty excessive on the brass and there weren't any particular moments
I generally like my jazz music with a little more finesse vs. brute force, but on the brute force end of the spectrum, this is really fun.
Jazzy and bongorific
Like a tiki bar in my ears.
Not really sure what this had to do with Kenya, but it’s a solid swing album with a neat mixture of Latin rhythms. Best song: Blues a la Machito
Pre-listening thoughts: album cover is scary but lord not as scary as election news the morning I revealed this album Post/during listening thoughts: this is pretty solid jazz music, I don’t have a lot else to say. There’s no vocals which is something I gravitate towards, but lots and lots of horns. It’s bright, and it’s fun. I don’t think I’d revisit this though, it’s just not my genre of choice. 6.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Frenzy Least fav tracks: n/a
This was pretty cool! It felt extremely fun and had a lot of different things going on. That's not a very technical review, is it? But it is quite a good description.
A bit of an assault musicianship is great and arrangements solid. It feels more Hollywood than Afro-Cuban but I did like the last 2 songs which felt more layered.
Very interesting and chaotic at the same time, but it kept me wondering what comes next. I think this is the most important thing when listening to a new artist.
Fun album, clearly influenced ezea collective
Did not expect to like this, since I have never liked jazz (though I always thought that maybe I didn't like it because I wasn't exposed to the right kind). Anyhow, I liked this! Reminded me a bit of cumbia, which I enjoy listening to on occasion. I particularly liked Congo Mulence and Tin Tin Deo.
I thought the music was okay.
3/5
3 - kinda an ambient jazzy experience, it wasn’t bad
I enjoyed the trumpet and brass throughout the songs. Frenzy fit its name really well. It did start to blend together after a while, but I also wanted to dance in my seat and shake my booty most of the time. It really was a mesh of sounds and genres into some fun music. I can imagine being in an old smokey big band club watching people dance, move and have a good time.
I would enjoy dancing with my wife to this music, in a jazz club in Cuba.
I would really enjoy this at a jazz club in Cuba.
This was really fun to listen to for a few songs. After the 4th or so song, the horns started to sound really shrill. Then again, I have a migraine lol.
nice
Some standard mambo music- was nice as background
😐👍
A solid enough endeavor in the ceaselessly intriguing cultural musical mashups that occurred in the decade of this album's release. Favorites: Wild Jungle, Kenya, Holiday, Cannonology, Blues a la Machito, Minor Rama.
I was surprised to hear Cannonball on this! The rhythm section is killer. And, I love Cannonball, but his stunt casting here I think does the material a disservice. He just sounds so out of place, and he can't really swing with some of these grooves. I'll still add it into the cocktail hour rotation, but, this was a weird one.
Lively and engergetic but don't really know how to classify this one.
‘Afro-Cuban jazz’ might be my kinda jazz, though I didn't love it like I expected to - it faded into the background a little easily for my tastes. Maybe it could do with a little more 'Afro-Cuban' and a little less 'jazz'? It *was* perfectly pleasant background music though, and it led me to discover the word ‘Cubop’, which is nice.
Reminds me of my grandad :)
Nice vibes, but I do prefer my music with some voices in them.
3+
Should it be on the list? I don't know. Probably. Nice little groove though.
I don’t know what makes good Afro Cuban jazz into great Afro Cuban jazz. All this is listenable to me, just not something I’d go back to.
An entirely instrumental album, with an influence in East African Jazz. I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. Favorite Song: "Blue a la Machito".
Clicked on this album link, and in 30 seconds I was thinking "this sounds like one of those Hollywood-esque big band cuban swing bands from the fifties." That seemed like a strangely retro for a Year 2000 album. But, Spotty lied. It is a competent fifties big band album, rather lacking in real African influences, but .... probably OK for your retro tiki bar.
Very fun listen. I don’t listen to much Jazz really good background music.
To me there's only one way to describe this, seventies movie music. When ever they wanted to add a Latin American theme to a movie in the seventies this is what they used. Nice listening, but not wat I would buy. Still worth a 3 though.
I would sooner listen to a million hours of African/Cuban Jazz than 1 minute of vanilla Country music. This music is great cheerful stuff, where you are in a world where there is no badness at all. Then it ended and back to reality (probably for the Cubans too). Well deserved fantasy 5 stars. But in the real world, a 3.
Take out a Cuban cigar, make yourself a Mojito or a Daiquiri, and pretend you're in a New York smoky club to attend a Son Cubano gig... Is that a cliché? It is. Just like this sort of music today, that I guess only music history tourists (and also real ones) are drawn to in 2024. I said "I guess", because in truth, I don't really know. The thing is, as broad as my tastes are (at least I'd like to think they are), I'm miles away from the target audience for this one, so I can't really write a proper review. I have a cheap Tito Puente compilation at home, but I'd be hard-pressed to quote any cut in it beyond "Oye Como Vas". It looks like someone in Dimery's team was really enamoured of Cuban sounds... Browsing through Spotify, I noticed that there is at least one other Machito album with vocals on it (including the musician's foster sister Graciela), there topped on this same sort of big brass instrumentation. Without that sort of vocal lifeline, *Kenya* is for me a much more difficult listen. I can't help feeling that this very codified music plays along some sort of pre established program, which prevents me from having any real emotional response to it. Most certainly a cultural blindspot on my part. What are you gonna do? Guess I'll have another Mojito then, and try harder not to overthink any of this... Huh. Doesn't work at all. But the Mojito feels good at least. 🫠 Going for a "neutral" grade here... Number of albums left to review: 72 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 399 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 231 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 299 (including this one)
Letkee setti, mut ei mullistanut mun maailmaa
Big jazz homie over here. This album kind of touches on it all. It has that big band sound carrying the melody, while Machito solos his way through it. Would definitely keep this cd on for like hosting folks at the house. I really feel like every song here is its own little journey. Will definitely listen to it again. Very enjoyable.
A nice vibe to the music. Something I like to have in the background, but I can’t listen to it every day.
1. jungle - 4 2. congo - 1.5 3. kenya - 2 4. oyeme - 1 5. holiday - 1 6. cannon - 2 7. frenzy - 1.5 8. bluez - 2 9. converzation - 1 10. tin tin - 1.5 11. rama - 1.5 12. tururato - 1
Not really my thing but it sounds clean and they’re talented.
Interesting set of jazz numbers
How good must one be with the maracas for it to be listed under their official "instruments" section of their Wikipedia page? Seems oddly specific to me. The sax work on Congo Mulence is fantastic; whole song is a standout thus far. Tin Tin Deo is fantastic. Loving the bright trumpet soloing work. I found this to be an enjoyable listen, but I have listened to so little similar music that it really is hard for me to give a proper review.
Snazzy jazzy album. Me likey. 3.5stars
This would be perfect music to listen to in a restaurant. Fairly repetitive and easy to fade into the background. Can't deny that I enjoyed each song, but all the songs sounded pretty much the same. Another 3.
I'm a big jazz fan but I'm generally not a fan of large ensemble/orchestra recordings. The soloists were the most interesting part for me but their time was very short. This was OK but not a flavor of jazz I would return to very often if at all.
I had to double check what year this was made. It sounds way more modern than the 50s. Listening to instrumental music on a sunny day is refreshing, and this was no exception. Quite short though, but better than it going on forever. Highlights: Holiday Frenzy Minor Rama
It's okay
Yeah
🤷♀️
I’m not familiar with this artist or album, not can I recall having listened to Afro-Cuban jazz before. Now that I’m close to the half-way mark on this project, I’ve reviewed a good number of jazz albums, but I honestly don’t think I know what to listen for with jazz or what makes a good jazz album. All the jazz albums I’ve reviewed have been fine, but I haven’t had much to say about them. I’m hoping this album breaks that trend. This album came up for me on a Saturday, and I got the chance to casually listen to it a couple of times as I ran some errands around town, but now on Monday, I finally had the chance to give it some proper attention, and I really enjoyed it. I don’t know if all Afro-Cuban jazz is tends to be more ‘horn-forward,’ but I really enjoyed that sound on this album. The percussion was great too, and combined with the horns, this album had a great Latin feel to it. The up-tempo songs were easily my favorite, but the slower tempo songs were great too. I still don’t ‘get jazz,’ but this was pleasant to listen to, and out of all the jazz albums I’ve listened to so far, this would be one of the first ones I’d go back to.
I feel like I should have liked this more than I did, but I found it all a little samey. Sounded good, with a nice vibe, but I don't suspect I'll return to it. Low 3.
karabískur djass. frekar skemmtilegar melódíur en einhæft. til í aðra. 3,5.
Like most of these jazz type albums, it starts off and it's fun and energetic, but it's hard to differentiate one track from another and it just gets downgraded to upbeat background music.
ja is ok aber halt nit meins
A nice and cosy lounge jazz. This music won't make you distracted for a better or worse. Good but slightly repetitive.
I did enjoy this, but it fades quickly into the background. Nothing really stands out
Nice to have in the background
Får mig att vilja köpa en snygg linnekostym, åka till franska rivieran och lösa brott på typ 50-talet.
Rytmerna asså mumsfilibaba på riktigt 🤩 suuuupertrevligt, vajbade sönder bästa låt: blues a la machito DELIKAT
Najs album, men inte så speciellt. Alla låtarna var väldigt lika så svårt att säga vilken som var bäst
Great change of pace. Loved the beats but wish there weee more vocals
Just as interesting as any other world music record, just as interesting as any other jazz record
Fine just not my style. Made me anxious
I respect the talent, but that was hard work
It's just not my cup of tea tbh but still It's an amazing album
Cool vibe! Something to listen to on holiday 😀
Big band jazz is fun, but like chocolate it is sickening after a few bites. Quite a complex sound with lots going on. I didn't give myself time to really listen in depth. This didn't have an African sound despite the promising title. 3/5
Good cookin music
Du bon jazz de Cuba. Ce n'est pas tellement unique ou mémorable, on dirait de la musique de fond d'un restaurant des Caraïbes. En même temps vu l'âge de l'album c'est probablement normal que ça ne sonne pas si unique car c'est probablement précurseur à tout ce qu'on connait de similaire. 7/10
I like jazz, there I said it. Jazz comes in many forms, I’m not sure I enjoy an entire album of Afro-Cuban Jazz. I like it but in moderation.
Never heard this album before, very lively.
Frantic but fun, and absolutely the soundtrack to some sixties spy caper movie with exotic locales, femmes fatales and - ideally - Cary Grant in a great suit.
Short, fun, but not super memorable songs. It reminded me of television theme songs of the 1960s.
ого чё что ну прикольно, капхед движуха получается, одобряемо
Most people on this website are idiots that only listen to one or two genres of music and have no idea how to understand or rate an Afro-Cuban jazz album, so they just end up giving it a 3/5 and moving onto the next album.
Fun jazz
Could have been a film soundtrack. Perfectly fine as background music but nothing to latch onto.
3/5 Busy music but must have been groundbreaking in 1957
Latin jazz. Agradable.
Great big band instrumental.
I get why it’s on the list. The fusion of Afro-beats and Latin jazz is cool. The jazz solos are great and it all just works.
Vibes: Cuban-afro dance jazz
Much better than I thought it would be! 3 star
Latin jazz. Agradable.
Nice, hot rhythms.
Who doesn’t like some hot Afro-Cuban jazz!?
Alright big band jazz
I still find it really difficult to rate jazz. This is an enjoyable record once/IF you get in the mood, but definitely not an easy listen for everyone. Decent middle of the pack.
Fun and jazzy!
Surprisingly, I quite enjoyed this album. However, it's not the type of music I could enjoy in isolation; it needs to accompany some other type sensory stimulation (for me, it was the gym). - While eating pasta in a Mafia owned restaurant during prohibition America. - While drinking spirits & supporting a late-night erection in a sleazy cabaret bar. - While watching fight scenes in the 1960s Batman series and reading speech balloons with "BOFF!", "THWACK!" and "KAPOW!" Cool music, but nothing on this record will be added to any playlists. Great album art too. 👍👍
Very enjoyable background listening, love this kind of jazz, though I didn't realize when the album had ended and Apple Music continued playing similar suggested songs.
First listen Saved 5/12: Wild Jungle Congo Mulence Kenya Conversation Minor Rama
Welcome to the Coco Bongo.... Smooookin'!
This music has become a cultural short-hand for comic, bachelor pad era zaniness. It's become a caricature of itself, which is shame. It is best in class for what it is. Listening with fresh ears, it is energetic, forceful, and powerfully arranged. The rhythm section is loud and frenetic (which is good), the horns are loud and tight (which is good) and the soloing free and wild (which is good). The tunes are strong, and the energy doesn't flag. Fave tracks: Frenzy, Wild Jungle, Oyeme. Good record, three stars.
Perfectly enjoyable jazz/afro music
I really enjoy this type of thematical music. It has some nostalgic value for me somehow, even though I didn't experience the 40s or 50s. The album brings out a feeling of curiosity and exploration for me for some reason. I can't really name a single song that stands out, but as a whole I like it a lot and can definitely see myself putting this on in the future just to get in a certain mood or just have some relaxing background music.
Enjoyed it as a whole, I really like this type of jazz. Was however not really in the mood listening to this today so I think I didn't give it as much attention as it deserved. Because of this (maybe), none of the tracks really stood out so I'll have to settle for a very strong 3. Should probably come back to this when I'm more in the mood as I think it really has potential.
Interesting album, it was difficult to get below the surface on this one, but I love the horns
This was a fun album to listen to!
testissä tänään oli ilmainen spotify, jos annan laulujen mennä itsenään. joka ikisen laulujan jälkeen oli yksi mainos, kovääninen sellainen. paskasti miksattu audio albumissa. jatsia ja perkussionille annettu paljon tilaa, silti kamala kokemus. ehkä kuuntelulaite issue. missed smisatkl dfshfjh dfas ds kljdss congo mulence
A nice vibe. I really like the rhythm section and the horns aren’t too shrill or stressful on my ears.
Not my style of jazz
Straight fuego but erratic as to be expected. Mood based listening and another victim of whole stars. Want to give it 4, but a 3 in this case. And I like it!
Good stuff
Very upbeat and energetic. Good listen worthy of 3 stars
Erster Gedanke: Oh mein Gott, wie anstrengend. Nach paar Songs: Geiler Shit :D Hör nie Jazz, deswegen hab ich keinen Vergleich. Hat mir aber gut gefallen. Durch die Varianz an Instrumenten nicht so stuck up wie regulärer Jazz.
Some catchy tunes
Nice Latin Jazz. It didn't get my attention especially but listened to it when I was working.
Not really my style, but I can appreciate the skill and technique apparent in this Afro-Cuban big band fusion thing.
Ohhhhhh afro cuban jazz??? Weiss ned öbi das so schomal gloset ha?! Exciting. Okay already schnells tempo, chli blöser, trummle! Ganz cool! Ah sich findis scho guet und spannend! Aber für hütt isches mer chli z schnell und ja isch ned fair es album so z bewerte aber it is what it is
holy shit das isch keeei morgemusig mann isch das uptempo. aber huuuere geil erste song. horn arrangements crazy. Congo Mulence. Cannonball time. riese solo. arrangement hinderem solo sehr geil. Kenya. immerno sehr schöni rieeesigi arrangements oke mit de ziit wirds chli grating das ganze und huere nervös blues a la machito geeils trompete solo. das album het en seeehr geile soind aber die einzelne stuck sind nöd suuper. bi etz bi minor rama und s isch echt langsam immer s glich. ok de schluss isch schö ruhig.
Nice…
Fun. Sounds like music that was on the movies in late 50s and 60s. Like in a James Bond scene in Africa or the islands.
There’s some great jazz tunes on this. I enjoyed learning more about Machito. Weirdly, and this doesn’t happen very often, I found the tracks too short. I kept wanting them to be longer so that I could fall into the groove. But just as I was loving them the song would end. 3.5/5
I have to say that i never heard of this album and the artist whasoever, and i never listen to afro-cuban jazz. But as a non-jazz apreciator, i accualy found this album very good, its easy listening jazz, no lyrics just the music and its a cool vibe. The vibe make you feel like you are in a Havana tavern or a speakeasy its just so cool. Nothing much to say, apparently it is a very influencial album and machiuto is a well-known figure in the jazz world.
I liked it but it just kind of countered along in the background as I was going about my morning. I can see it used in a party scene in some hip film. Nice and accomplished but I feel no desire to revisit
I think it was fine. I'm not sure. Latin Jazz I think?
It's kinky. I feel like I should love it, but it doesn't set me on fire. No standout tracks really, as it's all quite similar improv jazz.
- Jazz der nach vorne geht. Exzentrisch, ungezähmt und mit viel Charakter, dabei aber nicht willkürlich und nicht experimentell. - Ich sehe sofort einen 50er Jahre Film vor meinem inneren Auge, der in Zentral Afrika spielt und wo die Protagonisten im Cafe einer kolanialen Kleinstadt Zigarre rauchen. - Gefällt mir das? Weiß ich nicht. Die Platte erzeugt so ein deutliches Bild, dass ich sie schlecht anders wahrnehmen und so nebenbei hören kann. - Für reinen Jazz Konsum ist mir das Album etwas zu wild für meinen Geschmack, würde ich mir privat nicht anmachen. Und Stilistisch ist es für mich fast eher ein Soundtrack als ein Album, was dazu führt, dass die Musik nicht für mich allein steht und ich mich so schlechter nur darauf konzentrieren kann. Keine Ahnung, ob man das versteht. Ist für mich dementsprechend schwer zu bewerten 3/5
- Finde Jazz eigentlich ganz geil. Hat sowas Gemütliches teilweise. - Einige Lieder waren eher anstrengend und unentspannt, was mich beim Umzugsstress gerade nicht so abholt - trotzdem insgesamt gut - auch wenn ich es so wahrscheinlich nicht nochmal komplett hören würde Rating: 2,75 / 5
latin jazz is just not my vibe.
Una fusión perfecta de Jazz y música latina. Con claras raíces afrodescendientes, Machito realiza composiciones inmortales que, sin siquiera conocer el tracklist, se escuchan familiares (porque probablemente han sido usadas en una gran cantidad de series o películas). Sumamente entretenido y probablemente el punto de partida para los sonidos fusión caribeños.
yeah okay fine
Jazz orchestra
Ok
Good jazz
Fun listen. Good background music
Enjoyed it.
Fun and energetic, 3/5
Some pretty good songs, some forgettable songs
Albummet bliver lidt ensformigt i længden, men der er fart på og masser af god stemning. Saxofon og trommer på fuld plads og Bang. Og det er sgu ikke helt dårligt. Ville gerne lytte igen.
Gott stuð og fjör! Þetta er alveg minn tebolli og gott að eiga í pokahorninu ef samtalið berst að cubano jazz á næsta lagadegi.
Mjög skemmtilegt að fá þessa miklu fjölbreytni. Þá er maður búinn að kynnast afro-cuban jazz og Machito. Skemmtileg tónlist.
There's something magnetic about this album. I enjoyed it. Maybe I'm growing a soft spot for jazz... Overall: 6/10
5.5/10 Not my thing
Good stuff. Sometimes a bit too wild for chillvibes but overal this is my kind of jazz You like jazz? Okay the wilder stuff does fully slap this stuffs real good
Good for what it is
This went kinda hard ngl
I liked it. i’ll probably never revisit it but it was an enjoyable album
Easily my favourite afro cuban jazz album
fun jazz
Really danceable, it feels like this would be an amazing film score to a very slick movie. Otherwise, it's just alright jazz that I enjoy far more than most jazz. I could see myself liking this more on future listens, the question is if I will ever partake in those listens.
solid jazz fixture
Heard before: no The Xavier Cugat, Perez Prado vibe - blistering trumpets, crazy bongos, tight arrangements… a crazy night in the bachelor pad! It’s all in the titles: Frenzy, Conversation, Holiday. I would love to read these horn charts, and the players are unreal - hard, fast and turned up to 11. There are some fun tone shifts in the middle of some of the tunes, like Kenya, but there isn't really a second gear. Still, with this energy and quality, it’s hard to complain. Top tracks: Blues a La Machito, Kenya, Wild Jungle
Started off really good, but then they basically played the same thing for 40 minutes straight. I can't tell you my favorite or least favorite songs, because everything blended together. It was a pretty good blend, but some diversity doesn't hurt. Never heard of this guy before, but apparently he's super influential.
Nice cool jazz record
Fine for what it is, but I wouldn’t revisit
De très sympathiques africanaiseries, comme attendu.
En plein rush pour essayer de rattraper mon retard avant mes vacances de la semaine prochaine, autant vous dire que mon moral est au plus bas
I generally am a fan of this kind of older jazzy/big band/instrumental stuff, so this was a pretty cool album to listen to. It was very energetic but almost a little too much for me at times - "Frenzy" reminded me of the sensation of having drank too much coffee. Maybe that was the point! Overall enjoyed this one, but some of the brass sounds were a little harsh for me. Favorite track(s): None stuck out Album art: 3.5/5
Big band jazz with Latin rhythms! What’s not to like?
Yesterday I had Linkin Park and today this popped up. A million miles apart. I have to say I prefer this album- big band and super smooth. Very accomplished musicianship. Whilst it's not iconic it's really pleasant.
This was a fun listen and nice discovery. I already explore a little more of Machito catalog.
As advertised on the record sleeve, this is essentially Jazz with Afro-Cuban percussion. Fun to listen to, and probably would be great to see performed live. I can see putting this on again.
Not really my thing, but lively and loud. Not many thoughts on the album overall.
po bueno
Wow my booty started shaking immediately. I love the brass- incredibly performed, like a marching band. Very tight, powerful, and confident sound. I think "Kenya" is my favorite track so far. Great energy and the brass again is blowing me away. This was a really nice album to listen to. The brass really blew me away and I will definitely be returning to it.
Feeling it.
Pleasant enough, but I think that under normal circumstances just one track would do. A little goes a long way.
3.5/5. Machito Machito Machitoooooo.
Cool summer jam. But not an album I needed to hear. 6 out of 10
A bouncy and warm entrance into a genre I've had minimal exposure to. Probably better enjoyed on a deck with some liquor, rather than spreadsheeting on a Wednesday morning. I don't know how to dance, but this album makes me want to learn. Favourite tracks: Conversation, Cannonology
Horns aren’t really my favorite sound but nevertheless this was uplifting and made me feel like I was watching Office Space
All that African Jazz
Liked
This album was fun for ten minutes and then it stopped being fun.
Kind of enjoyable but started getting close to that squealy jazz
Enjoyed this in a general way, but nothing really stood out that much. Kind of reminded me a bit of a James Bond soundtrack.
As exciting as the percussion is, the rest is some instrumental big band jazz. I would have appreciated some vocals to break up the horns.
Opção para jazz cubano instrumental.
Decently enjoyed most of it. A few of the faster songs didn’t really do much for me and the squealing horns sometimes got a bit grating. I did definitely enjoy the incorporation of African drums in many of the songs though. 5/10
It's essentially big band with Cuban percussion and groove lines. Cool stuff. I got several complaints, like the excessive horn injections. Would prefer longer more developed tracks. Favorites: Congo Mulence, Oyeme, Holiday, Frenzy
Not my thing, I don't know how to rate this. Not bad I guess, it was fun to listen to.
Competent Afro-Cuban Jazz.
Kenya and Blues À La Machito go pretty hard, I like that. Otherwise, some pretty ordinary Afro-Cuban big band stuff. Enjoyable. 3 / 5 stars.
Groovy
Very different kinda jazz that i usually listen to, but it great so far
Very enjoyable jazz album, very tight. Jazz requires a lot of focus to really appreciate and I tried hard to give this as much as I could. It’s an exciting album that could have soundtracked a number of car chase scenes (was this in French Connection?). I think I’d need at least 10 more spins to truly appreciate this and I intend to come back, but for now it’s about a 3.5.
Pura arqueología para mí. Suena muy bien, me alegra escuchar música bien grabada hace tiempo.
A good one for cooking in the kitchen! Nice mix of jazz & exotica 👍
Fun in a random way.
Zesty! I enjoyed this amuse-bouche but forgive me, I found it just that - something to whet my appetite for something more full-spectrum.
Groovy drums
"We are currently experiencing a higher-than-normal volume of calls. Please stay on the line. Your call is important to us. We will connect you when one of our operators becomes available."
Nice!
Jazz with some island-ey influence (bongos and heavy horns)
A genre I didn't know existed, and one I probably won't be going back to - I like a lyric once in a while
good latin jazz
Nice 1950s jazz album for the background
I enjoyed the drums the most and the other instruments were pleasant but my brain associates this style of music too much with old Hollywood movies
"Kenya" is an African-Cuban jazz album by Cuban jazz musician Machito (Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo). The musicians and instruments include three percussionists, a horn section, bongos and congas. Yes, the rhythm section was prominent. The album was recorded at Metropolitan Studios in New York City. "Wild Jungle" comes out strong. A fast rumba. A very fast beat. It sounds like a marching band with the horns and the multiple percussion. The second song "Congo Mulence" is more traditional jazz. "Frenzy" lives up to its name with crazy percussion. "Blues a La Machito" is described as Cuban blues. Hmmm. This slows down things a bit. The seductive horns makes this song sound like it belongs in a private eye movie (i.e. "The Pink Panther"). The album ends with "Turutao." A rumba beat. A complex horn arrangement and horn solos. Interesting. This album reminded me a lot of Hollywood movie music. I don't have enough of a Latin jazz background/listening experience to compare, to say a Tito Puente. The highlight for me was the multiple percussions and the beats they created making this worth a listen.
I can definitely here the African rhythms paired with American Jazz and latin energy. Nice to be exposed to be a exposed to this!
Standard 3 Star world music rating
Yup
Listened Before? N An unexpected treat. Great jazz album with additional tribal beats behind it. I really liked the complex horns here and the fast pacing. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Wild Jungle
Very brass heavy cuban African jazz. It is intense and in your face. Can't think when I would ever play t except to annoy the neighbors.
un après-midi diversifié et ce n'est pas pour me déplaire
I enjoyed this enough but wonder if a bosa nova revival 50 years after the fact is that essential
Je pensais pas que j’etais pret pour autant de samba ;p tout de meme j’ai apprecie .3
cool!
I respect this culturally, but it's just not really my thing.
Not really my taste but I enjoyed it
Another Cuban hitting NYC and finding cool fusions in the 50s. I have the last one a high rating although who knows who was first. Oh well the 1001 order influences the ratings.
If memory serves me correctly, I gave Willie Colón & Rubén Blades high marks because their 70s salsa was devoid of piercing horns. Tito Puente, I scored high in spite of the brassy horns because the music was danceable and I enjoyed the smooth vocalists. This music is piercing, but not danceable and without vocals so it gets a lower mark from me. Some of the pieces sound like they would be perfect for a James Bond car chase scene. I like the occasional sax and trumpet solos. This would have been quite a waker-upper in 1957 & Machito was certainly a major influence on the emerging Latin Jazz scene.
looks and sounds influential but not much happens during this, and that’s pretty much about it. might have to dive deeper into the genre before judging this particular release though
I’m not much for Jazz. And this jazz fusion with Afro Cuban sensibilities while totally fine was in fact so damned cool. I’d probably grade this up a notch because of the cool factor. The coalescence of the horns and percussion all give way to some joyful noise that’s hard to predict.
I thought this was a pretty impressive jazz album. It was primarily high temp and had some amazing brass sounds. I felt the album did a good job of providing a unique jazz sound that in 57 was new to a lot of people. Would listen to some of this again. 7.1/10
Interesting
Picture yourself in a hot, sweaty Cuban nightclub, 1957, sipping on a Cuba Libre, beautiful people dancing close. This is the music I hear in my mind. Not necessarily my favorite type of music, but it's a nice change of pace occasionally. 3 stars.
Really good listen, the album as a whole. Really enjoyed “Congo Mulence” and “Wild Jungle.”
Afro-Cuban-Latin-Jazz. You know what it sounds like. Perfect for a BBQ or montages of arriving and driving around the streets of Cuba. Best Tracks: Congo Mulence; Kenya; Holiday
Very introspective and calm. Enjoyed it throughly. I don’t know what introspective means. 3/5
Loved the energy and rhythms. Not sure my hips and feet could keep up if I ever tried to actually dance to it but my toes were definitely tapping the whole time.
you like afro-cuban jazz?
Good to listen to.
Ei tää nyt huono ollut, mutta ei toistekaan tuu kuunneltua. Paikoin tuli mieleen Ihmeperheen score, mistä plussaa.
джаз и трубы! ничего не запомнила
Strong start, descends into something quite samey. I don't say this unkindly - I could pick any of the tracks on the latter half of the album and enjoy them, but after a few I'd zone out. Coherent - but needs more flare.
This is my kind of jazz; concise, uptempo, and heavy on brass and percussion. I don't generally care for the long-winded, improvisational, "it's the notes they don't play" sort of jazz, so this was a refreshing deviation from that style. No single track truly stood out, which is why it gets 3 stars instead of 4, but if someone threw this on I'd happily listen to it in its entirety (especially if some tropical drinks were part of the equation).
Reminded me of West Side Story. Not something I'd actively listening to.
3,5/5
Je trouve l'écoute agréable, mais je ne suis pas assez connaisseuse pour apprécier l'innovation ou la maîtrise. Ne me laisse pas un souvenir marquant.
Tight band and great percussion.
Not a huge fan of Jazz, but this had a lot of interesting themes in the music
Jazz, 1957. A funny and danceable record with a really good afro-cuban rythm. Even though I prefere other genres, I found it quite interesting and also enjoyable.
I should be listening to this album being played by a big band, not through bluetooth speakers. This is not my genre, but I have to appreciate how Machito makes me feel like I'm on the set of a 1950s film noir, with Humphrey Bogart handing me an old fashioned before we go solve a murder. As a whole, the album can be a bit samey but with the right mood and venue, this record is - in modern terms, a banger. Standout tracks are Congo Mulence & the titular Kenya.
Predicted the mid to late Sixties in the mid to late Fifties.
the gumshoe and the hepcat, original soundtrack recording
It's some really nice jazz with the African/Cuban influences, especially on the drums. At times some relaxed jazz to have on in the background, other times uplifting jazz to dance to, but it never really gets special for me. I appreciate the importance of this album in music history and am glad I listened to it a few times, but will likely never put it on again.
It’s the sound track of every 1950-60 movie in the most perfect way. Be it beatnik or love story- incredibly fun. Enough energy to move, not the ideal album for me to relax to. It makes me want to wear all my pin-up clothes.
I’m into it. I’ll give it another couple of listens, but it’s abstract- but not too abstract
From 70s Disco to 50s Afro-Cuban Jazz. Yeppers. - Wild Jungle – About what I’d expect from Afro-Cuban Jazz. Lots of hand-drums percussion. The original trumpet solo is fine. Tone is not my favorite. The first percussion solo is nifty, but not varied enough to be particularly notable. Kinda blends together. Second percussion solo is a bit better. Then it ends. Kinda without a climax. - Congo Mulence – A slower track. Smoother too. I like the trumpet solos in this one. - Kenya - Another lower mid-tempo track, though not as smooth as Congo. Feels like the opening to a 50s sitcom or cartoon, lol. The longest track on the album. The transition to faster percussion and more aggressive brass doesn’t really work for me. - Oyeme – Defining sound here is the da-da-DA! trumpet riff. Lots of trumpet soloing, but no real climax. - Holiday – This one is more distinctive, which I appreciate. The sassy/cocky trumpet riff is fun. - Cannonology – A more dancy track with stronger bass. Kinda forgettable though. - Frenzy - another one where the bass takes an active role, giving this one a stronger feel. The frantic percussion lets an energy to this lacking in some of the others. This one is probably the best percussion of the bunch, with the trumpets often serving as accents instead of being the driving force. The extended percussion solo is quite nice. Like a lot of the songs, though, the climax either isn’t there, or comes too abruptly and ends. - Blues a La Machito – A slower track with a fair bit of swagger. Smooth like Congo Mulence, but not quite as memorable. The chorus of brass is kind of a grating sound too. Not sure if it’s the mastering or what, but I really don’t like that. This one does at least have a proper climax. - Conversation – Good balance with the percussion and brass. The different brass sounds do sound like they’re having a conversation, hence the name. It mostly works as a concept. A pretty good song. - Tin Tin Deo – Sounds a lot like the other songs on this album tbh. Not sure if there’s anything new here. - Minor Rama – Lots of trumpet work, and it’s hit or miss. A lot of the tones, I’m not a fan of, but the groove is really nice, as is the solo. - Turuato – The rhythm of the brass is kinda jarring. I don’t really like it. A lot of short songs on this one. Most under 3 minutes and longest is 3:28. That’s different from what I’ve come to expect from jazz, but brevity is nice for easy listening. There’s not a lot of variety on this record. It’s all trumpet and percussion music, and not much to distinguish each track, outside of Congo Mulence’s super smooth solos and Holiday’s cocky trumpet riff. The trumpet playing is nice, but I’m not the biggest trumpet fan, so a number of the tracks fall flat. This is more of an every-other-track album than a consistently good one. From reading about Machito, it sounds like he’s genuinely insanely innovative in terms of music, so it’s a bit surprising that so many of the songs here come off sounding so similar. Then again, about half the songs are really good, so… Overall, this was an enjoyable experience to listen too, though nothing just is rushing up as my favorite. It’s in a weird spot where it’s probably too good to be a 3/5 but not good enough to be a 4/5. I can’t do half stars, though, so I guess it’s a 3? To be a 4 it’d need a bit more variety or WOW moments, I think.
Good example of Afro-Cuban jazz. Lots of horns and drums.
Good old-fashioned jazz.
Nice arrangements and tasteful playing, but it all blends together.
It’s ok for jazz, not a big fan of the genre but it’s an easy listen.
Very fun, but not one I could appreciate fully because I don't understand why it is so good. I really enjoyed it, but jazz just isn't my thing.
What a great album. That is "feel good" music 100%. 3.5
Holy shit this is awesome I don't listen to jazz often but I'm a sucker for Afro-Cuban percussion It did end up getting a little old for me personally though
Good
Congo/salsa music. Was not expecting to enjoy this at all but I had it on in the background while I was working and found myself swaying along to the music. Still not really my style or anything I would listen to on a regular basis but it makes you want to move.
Bright and splashy, exactly what you'd expect from this. I'll take it
Awesome album for productivity 4 3
I've never heard of Machito or any of the music on Kenya. I enjoyed listening to something different that I would pick for myself. I probably don't understand enough about the music to fully enjoy what is offered. There were tracks that grabbed more of my attention ("Blues a la Machito", "Holiday", "Congo Mulence") but there were also tracks that made me feel impatient to move on to the next thing ("Wild Jungle"). Kenya was good enough.
very upbeat
On one listen it doesn’t transcend high quality late night TV talk show jazz. Frenzy was a highlight.
I enjoyed it
3/5
I’ll be on a Latin jazz kick for a week now.
Latin jazz. Agradable.
More like a soundtrack, but fun
Enjoyed listening to it but wouldn’t rush back again. Imagine if an episode of Tom & Jerry was set in Nandos.
Fun listen. Cool album, very different to the rest of the albums listened to so far.
Kenya came across a bit too soundtrack-y, though the rhythms were neat and the playing high-quality. Seems like many of the players never really opened up, at least not in any way I could pick up.
Yes, funky, and yes, complex rhythmically, but personally, I find too much going on here, especially percussion-wise. Title track, “Holiday” and “Blues la Machito” are tops for me but there is a large amount of sameness, inclusive of much impressive playing and soloing. Plus it all sounds good. But it’s almost too jazzy, too typically popular big band (as Machito aimed for the charts and broad acceptance, one supposes). One wishes for a bit more of a world music feel. Compare this to say Ethiopiques albums and you see what I mean. File under “not quite my thing.”
Pretty good Afro-Cuban jazz album, I’m not the biggest fan of big band jazz but these guys were swinging.
Great cleaning music or if you have a bongo fetish. Lots of fun, but the music Apple provided after the album ended was equally fun. A high 3 but didn't add.
Frank Grillo "Machito" was one of the first guys to bring afro-cuban rhythms into jazz. This was a distinct style point that brought new life into the genre by focusing on the excellent percussion from Cuba (congas, bongo, timbales) while also utilizing the 2-3 son and 3-2 son clave rhythms with the horns and melodies of big band jazz. Kenya is a prime example of this work, as best shown in the song Frenzy, which is aptly named. I love the energy and blend of styles on display here, it's a real treat. It's not the most varied or excellent show of jazz in general, but based on the stylistic premise I can still enjoy this album and what it has to offer. I do wish, however, that an album called "Kenya" featured more music styling from East Africa, such as Taarab.
Upbeat lounge music? Very cool afro jazz vibes and what on earth is Cubop.
Svidile su mi se vise ove smooth pjesme nego ove s intenzivnim bongosima. Tako da trojka
Znači, baš sam uživao u ovom albumu na neki način. Nije čista četvorka, ali je solidno.
Fine easy going jazz. Smooth and fun.
Enjoyable at first but the horn blasts start to grate on me after awhile. Can you imagine listening to this with a hangover?
Kind of fun but gets a bit exhausting to listen as an album.
Dang, this album is tight! All so locked in, and there are some real complicated polyrhythms happening. It's all a bit too frenetic for my ears at the moment -- maybe after another mug of coffee? -- but I can see why this album made the list. The Wikipedia entry on Machito lists quite a few innovations this band created, and that's super cool. Jazz in the 50s. What a time!
This is one of the first jazz albums I’ve listened to all the way through, and I liked it pretty well! Percussion is really fun and the songs all groove.
3.5
I felt like I was in Vegas in 1964.
Catchy and fun. Very easy listening. I enjoyed it for what it is, but I don't think I'll be coming back to it.
Not my style at all but this was pretty fun and cinematic to me.
Like if Herb Alpert had a little different flavor. Love it. 3.5
Not really my style. I'm sure this album was really important and influential but I didn't really enjoy listening to it that much, and probably won't revisit it.
This must have been one of Bernstein's influences for West Side Story. Cool stuff if not what I normally listen to
Curiously fun jazz x big band stylings that grab the attention early but don't really hold it. Similarly, a strong start to the album doesn't always hold up down the line but this is a very easy listen, 3/5 from me.
Enjoyable and glad I heard it. Cover art 3/5
Good album
I want to see this band live. That horn section is only rivaled by that rhythm section. Is this what westerners call "world music" because we don't know how to differentiate music with horns and polyrhythms? I know I'm ignorant on the topic. But I also know that I love it. If I were to criticize this in compraison to the other "world music" I heard (much of it has come from this list), I'd say that there are more drum breaks here and they aren't always interesting for the duration. "Congo Mulence" and "Blues a la Machito" pure groovy goodness though. Did I mention those horns?
So, I know I am overly critical of jazz albums on here, but this one hit me different. It reminded me of the "fun" stuff we used to play in my high school jazz band. It's more structure (and less jazz), but it's good.
A fun album. I enjoyed it. I don't really listen to stuff like this but this project has taught me that maybe I should have more jazz in my life. In reality I will probably stick to a healthy diet of metal, punk and genres adjacent to them.
Good music
A fun album. Sounds like what I imagine a supper club in Miami the 1930s-1960s to sound like. Definitely have to like brass, as there is an ample amount of trumpeting throughout.
It was good but I would probably not listen again. It’s just not a style I really dig
Good
I thought it was an interesting album, gave me a real 80s las vegas vibe but I didn't think it was anything too special
Je ne connaissais pas Machito et n’avait même jamais entendu son nom. J’ai bien aimé et particulièrement la prise de son.
It's a lot of fun but you can't shake the feeling there is something better out there
It is definitely a jazz album. It was relatively short. It was ok.
Ich mein das ist chillig, aber da passiert halt einfach nicht so viel. Kann mich an keinen Song so wirklich erinnern, das passiert halt einfach. Klangtechnisch aber halt ganz schön. 6/10
nicht besonders schlecht... wird irgendwann langweilig (kenne mich mit big band aber überhaupt nicht aus)
War ganz Chillig aber hat mich auch auf den wenigsten Songs umgehauen. Kann ich mir aber gut für nen geselligen Abend vorstellen ist angenehm zu hören.
Da ich echt wenig Ahnung von Jazz habe, und auch bis ein paar Ausnahmen es auch relativ wenig höre bzw. gehört habe, muss ich echt zugeben, dass ich das Album gar nicht so richtig begreifen kann. Vor allem mit dem Hintergrund, wie einflussreich diese Band für das Genre war. Auch die Einflüsse aus Latin culture und Afro culture kommen hier auf jeden Fall durch, vor allem bei den drums, aber irgendwie hab ich das Gefühl, dass ich es nicht ordentlich wertschätzen kann. Ist vielleicht mal eine Motivation, in das Genre nochmal richtig einzutauchen. Vielleicht ists aber auch einfach nicht mein Ding und ich finde mich einfach damit, dass ich lediglich Jazz Einflüsse in anderen Genres abfeier und purer Jazz mich einfach nicht ganz so stark abholt. Möchte aber, auch wenn mich das Album jetzt nicht umgehauen hat (und das wahrscheinlich weil ichs nicht verstehe(n) (kann)), sagen, dass der Sound interessant ist und an manchen Stellen sau cool ist. Aber hab ehrlich gesagt keine Ahnung wie ich hier raten soll, weil ich nicht das Gefühl hab dass ichs wirklich bewerten kann. aber ich sag mal 2,5-3.
ist mir irgendwie ganz schön egal
Weirder Pick. Ich find die Auswahl einserseits cool, anderseits weird bei der wenigen Anzahl von Jazz Alben auf der Liste. Aber cool dass es mehr ~Exotica~ einflüsse hat, da hätte man schlimmeres nehmen können. Ich bin schon Fan von so Easy Listening Samba, Bossanova, auch mit Big Band Elementen, ich finde hier fehlen nur irgendwie die richtigen Highlights. Richtig gut fand ich aber die Percussions, das war ne nette Abwechslung. Also es ist cool aber nicht WOAAAAHH und davon gibts ja irgendwie mehr als genug im Jazz. Ich empfehle Quincy Jones mit Big Jazz Bossa Nova, das ist find ich deutlich cooler in nem ähnlichen Stil.
Great album to break up the monotony. Had some good times listening to this even though I have no idea what they're saying and tracks at first listen are nearly indistinguishable. This has potential and I could listen to this over and over in a setting that doesn't require me to pay attention to it.