Mongo Returns! is an album by the Cuban musician Mongo Santamaria.[2][3] It was released in 1995.[4] The album marked Santamaria's return to the Fantasy Records label.[5]

Production

The album was produced by Todd Barkan.[6] Its songs were arranged by Marty Sheller.[7] Hilton Ruiz played piano on the album.[8] Eddie Allen played trumpet.[9]

"Bahia" is a cover of the Ary Barroso song; "When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You" is a version of the Marvin Gaye song.[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[11]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide	[6]

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called the album "marvelous Latin big band" music.[12] The Boston Herald lamented that "the band's performances rarely rise above pleasant and competent."[13] City Pages noted that "rather than wallow in a groove, the tunes on [the] CD continually shift gears, deploying the percussionists as much for texture as for rhythm and varying the pace."[7]

AllMusic wrote that "Mongo's large ensemble sounds sharp, at home with the Latin beat, up-to-date electronic instruments and occasional skipping bassline, and Mongo thunders away with his usual polyrhythmic vigor."[10] The Albuquerque Journal deemed Mongo Returns! one of the best Latin jazz albums of 1995; The Chicago Citizen also listed it among the best of 1995.[14][15]

Track listing

References