![]() ![]() So, overall, this is definitely a mixed bag. Consisting of folk melodies and religious songs, with the emphasis totally on the chanting and singing, the music is intriguing from a historical standpoint but the jazz content is nil on this emotional date (which has Merceditas Valdes taking the vocal on four numbers). The latter project has the music performed entirely by vocalists, other than the percussion of Santamaria and Bobo. Unfortunately though, that project is combined with the cuts from Bembe, which are in a very different style. The playing by the local musicians is of high quality, and the ten selections are quite enjoyable. ![]() The first set is superb, featuring an unusual mixture of instruments for a Cuban band: two trumpets, flute, piano, tres ( Nino Rivera), bass, timbales, bongos, guiro, conga, and two vocalists. The two records that make up Our Man in Havana (the other date was originally called Bembe) were recorded in 1960 during a visit to Cuba by Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo. First published in 1959 against the backdrop of the Cold War, Our Man in Havana remains one of Graham Greeneās most widely read novels. ![]()
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