The Conga Kings - Jazz Descargas (2001)

This trio of Latin percussionists released a self-titled CD in 2000, which is OK, but not what I'd consider a "go-to" CD for Afro-Cuban music. For me, this 2001 release is a much better CD because, as the title suggests, it fully embraces the connection between Afro-Cuban music and jazz. There's guest artists aplenty: Phil Woods, Chocolate, Jimmy Bosch, Mario Rivera, and Nelson Gonzalez. Woods, in particular, really brings it. The Conga Kings set an infectious groove, then get out of the way and let the guests do their thing while the band persistently churns underneath. There's nothing groundbreaking here and it's all terribly derivative, but it's a fun listen.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:  Several keepers here, including the band's versions of Bud Powell's Un Poco Loco, Duke Ellington's Caravan, Dizzy Gillespie's A Night In Tunisia and Manteca, Tito Puente's Oye Como Va, and the classic Cuban son-pregón The Peanut Vendor. If you want to focus on the conga playing, there's also an 8 minute conga jam appropriately titled Conga Descarga.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  My preferred method of listening to Afro-Cuban music is on the back porch on a hot, breezy summer evening, accompanied by quality conversation, cold beer, and a good cigar. That's usually how this CD has been enjoyed. In fact, not long after this was released, it was enjoyed in "Jaime's Cantina" (my friend Jim's back porch on the Texas Gulf Coast).

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Conga Kings (2000)

The Conga Kings (2000)

A copy of this CD was given to me by my friend Jim when we went through our Afro-Cuban music phase around the turn of the century. The only conga player I know by name is Mongo Santamaria, so I'm not familiar with the three men that make up the Conga Kings, even they've played with all the Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban greats. I enjoy Afro-Cuban music, but I wouldn't call myself a connoisseur. This music is good because these percussionists are spectacular musicians who aren't competing with one another here, just playing off each other. One could argue that this son music was hastily released to capitalize on the Buena Vista Social Club's success. That may indeed be true; I'm not purchasing Afro-Cuban music these days. However, many of the old time Cuban musicians are passing away and I'm glad at least a few of them got into some recording studios while they were still around. Indeed, one of these Conga Kings, Carlos "Patato" Valdes, died in 2007.

Tracks: I enjoy Tumbando Caña, Guaguancó Pa' Las Tumbadoras, Avísale A Mi Contrario, Tuna Se Quemó, but all the tracks are good and the CD is well-sequenced.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but with this recent heat we're (currently at 10 consecutive days with triple digit temps) this can be ideal porch music when matched with the appropriate beverage.