HERBIE MANN — Bongo, Conga and Flute (review)

HERBIE MANN — Bongo, Conga and Flute album cover Album · 1959 · Latin Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
js
“Bongo Conga and Flute” takes a couple songs from Mann’s “Flautista”, and adds three more songs from a recording a year later with the unifying factor being somewhat similar instrumental lineups. All five songs on here feature Mann with vibraphone, bass, drums and a Latin percussion ensemble, plus a four man trumpet section on three of the cuts. The music on here is good Latin Jazz with Mann’s inevitable influence, but possibly due to its slapped together nature, is not one of the more striking albums in the Herbie Mann discography.

“Cuban Potato Chips” opens with Herbie’s trademark beatnik raga groove with an Afro-Cuban slant and features relaxed long line solos from Mann, vibraphonist Johnny Rae and the percussion section. In typical Mann style, the percussion driven groove stays intact throughout. The standard “I’ll Remember April” is played Afro-Cuban big band style and then switches to a furiously fast paced swing ride, the energy runs high on this one.

Side two features an odd original instrumental called “Come on Mule” with a slow loping beat similar to Grofe’s donkey ride in “The Grand Canyon Suite”. Interesting how the donkey’s lope similarly affects both pieces. “Come on Mule” is an interesting bit of exotica that channels jazz’s earliest days and features humorous lazy interplay between Rae’s vibraphone and Herbie on bass clarinet, instead of flute, for a change. The album closes with a relaxed and exotic Afro-Cuban big band version of “You Stepped out of a Dream” with Herbie stretching out the melody with one of his nicest flute rides on the album. This one has a classic late night romantic vibe to it. All around, this album makes a good addition to the Herbie Mann collection, but you may be able to find all of these tunes on other albums.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Green Puma / Tropical Dandy Jazz Related Rock
THE LINK QUARTET
Buy this album from MMA partners
Vinny Golia Quintet : Can You Outrun Them? 21st Century Modern
VINNY GOLIA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Bow Code Fusion
SAMPO HIUKKANEN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Anthem For No Man’s Land Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ANDREAS SCHAERER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Cabaret Eclectic Fusion
MARIUS NESET
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Paper Plane Pilot
MIKE DE SOUZA
js· 70 minutes ago
Green Puma
THE LINK QUARTET
js· 73 minutes ago
Heavy Cream
SAMPO HIUKKANEN
js· 3 hours ago
Sunday afternoon
FURIO DI CASTRI
snobb· 16 hours ago
Harmônicos
FABIANO DO NASCIMENTO
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed