In the early 1960s a geographically strange matching of Afro-Cuban music and San Francisco jazz occurred--mostly in the Treat Street headquarters and studios of Fantasy Records. The jazz axis of this strange revolution was Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaria; revolving around the axis were Cal Tjader (particularly), Vince Guaraldi, Bola Sete, and others. This recording is among the earliest-ever to attempt a display of the charanga instrumental and vocal approach to Cuban popular music. Also included: the mambo, pachanga, descarga. . . and some magnificent flute, trumpet, violin, saxophone, and (of course) percussion interludes. Besides Santamaria, such now-famed names as Pete Escovedo, Bayardo Velarde, Willie Bobo, and “El Flaco” Hernandez are in the ten-piece orchestra. This recording is as fresh--or fresher--today as it was 40 years ago.

with Felix "Pupi" Legarreta, José "Chombo" Silva, Rolando Lozano, Louis Valizán, Marcus Cabuto, René Hernandez, Willie Bobo, and others