Mambo Of The Fifties

[happyfilmluvguy]

Considered as "the king of mambo", Perez Prado triumphed over the masses of other artists that tuned into the same genre and style. What's your take on Mambo in general?

 

[CharlieH.]

Papa loves mambo! Mama loves mambo!
You can't help wanting to dance when there's a good mambo in the air.

Speaking of Perez Prado:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j1z6GDZWNA

 

[The Captain]

Prado and Jones~Together Again

Thanks for the laughs and memories, Charlie! I saw Spike Jones and his crew on stage back in Omaha (late '40s~early '50s) and enjoyed their antics, but what was truly interesting was the quality of the band when they weren't doing their signature crazy stuff. As to Mambo, count me in; Latin rhythms are great!

 

[CharlieH.]

You saw Spike live!?! Oh privileged one!
I didn't know they also played straight music.

 

[cookie]

Cuban Music

Nice to see a thread starting on this.

I love Cuban music and have many CDs including Perez Prado - the Lecuona boys - Mongo Sanatamaria - the Modern Buena Vista and the other modern streams. Try to buy a copy of the live M Sant album made before he died in the 1990s. Its on one of the cheaper labels. Stupendo! Genial!

I speak Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese and have travelled extensively in L America and socialised with Latins in Australia including sharing house in the 1970s. My command of Spanish and Portuguese at that time was IMHO remarkable (for a self taught gringo) and I was, therefore, able to/had the privilege to enter a little into that deep, romantic and expressive culture that is the Hispanic/Portuguese legacy. La Hispanidad as they call it.

IMHO Cuban music is the ultimate Latin music. It encompasses all the Spanish streams (country, bolero etc) and African but with a depth and intensity and quantity of output and styles that is remarkable.

Hence the Cubans also segued straight into the Jazz culture (Dizzy etc) and this is explained well in that movie on the great trumpeter that fled Cuba - Arturo Sandoval.

Anyone interested in this ? Or has seen the Mambo Kings and captured that flavour of that wonderful era?

That is before one of the greatest and most beautiful cities in L America became a dilapidated near ruin!

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

I really enjoy latin and cuban culture. It always sounds and looks so vibrant and colorful, exciting and dramatic. I have not seen the Mambo Kings but I'd like to. There is a film being released that I cannot remember the name to but is about a Salsa singer/musician. I'm sure it'll come about sooner or later but it looked great. Mongo Santamaria is definitely a must listen!

 

[Hamilton_Honey]

"Hey, Mambo! Mambo Italiano...Hey Mambo!"

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

What do you think of the international (American, British, German, etc) take on Mambo, as opposed to it's native land?

 

[Nathan Dodge]

Having lived my whole life in and near Miami, I have been exposed to so much Latin culture and am so glad that I live in a city that is so representative of the music, history and culture, especially Cuba. I love Mambo, and recall a co-worker of mine from Cuba who was too young to remember his time as a child in Cuba, but when we played a Perez Prado album, he really got into it and coined his own humorous term for the music of the era, "Batista Music."

I am currently in a HUGE Bossa Nova mood as well! (Wanda De Sah, you move me!)

 

[HadleyH]

Papa loves mambo! Mama loves mambo!
You can't help wanting to dance when there's a good mambo in the air.

Speaking of Perez Prado:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j1z6GDZWNA

Thank you for posting that link!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know Perez Prado, but that music was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!

Papa loves mambo! Mama loves mambo! And enchilada too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[reetpleat]

Mambo is great. I like Salsa okay and like sals adancing okay, but hre music does not do it for me. But a a swing lover, I find Mambo just swingy and arranged enough that it excites me the same way. I love it.

Interesting note, when Cuba had the revolution, a large number of musicians migrated to mexico city, then new york. SO both cities had extremely vibrant scenes in the fifties. There are a lot of good mexican flims with amazing music and dance scenes. I am sure Resortes can back me on that. I have a Resortes (The real movie star) movie that has Perez Prado and his band in it, along with a great mexican rock and roll band. They also dance "El Roboto"

As for other countries making the music, I love that it is an international trend appreciated all over the world. But I do sometimes have issues about such things as French sals aband a few yeras back getting a lot of recognition and winning an award for best salsa band. It may be that they were truly the best, but I think it would be hard to beat a cubano band. More likely they were the best at doing the music while making it accessable for an international audianece.

But if someone loves the music, he should be doing it, and if they are good at it, they should be appreciated as such.

A few faves Tito Puente (saw him a few times) Perez Prado, Xavier Cugat (married to Charo, and kind of a Paul Whiteman of Mambo. spanish actually) and Tito Rodriguez.

and if you have not heard the buena vista Social Club, or the Piano players solo album I can't remember his name, crawl out from under the rock you must be living under, and check them out.

What do you think of the international (American, British, German, etc) take on Mambo, as opposed to it's native land?

 

[John in Covina]

Perez "Prez' Prado

In my music collection I have a probably 20 Prado CD's and a variety of other mambo CD's from Cugat, Chico O'Farrell, to Enoch Light and even Cal Tjader. Prez was the king of mambo and mambo was a powerful influence on popular music at the time. It is Happy and infectious music not to be trifled with as it is addicting to listen to and dance to.

Prez doing Mambo #5, Mambo #8, Maria Elana, Cherry Pink, Mambo En Sax and Mambo En Trumpeta are some of my favorite stand out cuts.
:eusa_clap
Long Live Mambo!

 

[cookie]

Mambo Kings

John - like me - you show all the signs of a classic Cuban music tragic with a taste for the Grand Master - Perez Prado. Some of the newer stuff is good too.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

The most constant song of his I listen to is "Sway"

I read Rosemary Clooney is singing but she sounds nothing like Rosemary Clooney, maybe a bit better.

"When the rumba rhythms start to play....dance with me, make me sway, like a lazy ocean hugs the shore, hold me close, sway me more....(do du do!)"

"I can hear sound of violins, long...before it begins, make me thrill as only you know how, sway swith me, sway me now....(uh!).

I recommend Mongo Santamaria as a front runner.

 

[cookie]

Mongo

I have 3 Mongo CDs. One is the original one with Watermelon Man - not much chop. The others I found in the AUD10 Cheap CD stores. Ole' Ola is one but the other (it is at work) is a live job that is simply sensational. Both the latter are released on some unknown label that got a hold of the tapes.

By the way there is also a CD out now of the Ray Charles live concerts he did on Brazilian TV in 1963 with the Raelettes like in the movie including the one who died of drugs.

In one session everyone is dressed to the 9s in formal tux etc. The other one is a more punter-friendly audience.

 

[Rundquist]

[YOUTUBE][/YOUTUBE]Finally found the old Mambo thread. I’m going to use this thread to post all afro-Latin music in the future. This is Joe Cuba’s group from the 60’s (though they did start in the 50’s. They were a very interesting group in that the horn section was replaced with a vibraphonist. They played Mambos, boleros, and doo-wop numbers. They were just always one of the most swingingest bands out there. Joe Cuba passed away earlier this year. Picando De Vicio is one of my favs.

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“Bailadores” is a good example of a Joe Cuba cooker. Joe Cuba’s band was known for really hot Mambo sections. The term “Mambo” section in Afro-Latin music refers to the part of the song where the music changes and hits 5th gear. It’s usually the most exciting part of the song. This is not to be confused with the “Mambo” rhythm. Joe’s Mambo sections were usually rhythm breakdowns and synchronized drum breaks. In this particular tune, the Mambo section is followed by a Jimmy Sabater Timbale solo.

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“To Be With You” was one of Joe’s biggest hits. It was sung by Jimmy Sabater. The song speaks for itself. It was the most played song at weddings in Spanish Harlem in the 60’s. Probably still is today.

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“Bonchinchosa” is another cooker. Check out the Mambo section. Check out the swing.

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Trip To Mamboland - for fun.

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Bang Bang - Probably Joe's biggest. Also for fun. This is Latin Boogaloo.

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“A La Seis” is another favorite from the early 60’s. I included the original and a live version with Cheo Feliciano (Joe’s original singer) and the “New Swing Sextette”. New Swing were “influenced” by Joe Cuba and are of the same vintage. It’s ironic that this performance (from 09) is from Switzerland. This music, which has flourished in this country and is equal part American, has never been fully appreciated in this country. It’s a real shame. The masses are really missing something great.

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[Mr Vim]

Happy, I agree with you, Prado is the King.

I own his greatest hits album, and I mambo to that every chance I get.

My favorite is the Barabarabetiri Mambo... classic.