Watermelon Man

by Mongo Santamar铆a

Watermelon Man cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 1963
  • Label: Battle
  • Country: Cuba
  • Length: 1:12:23
  • Community rating: 3.4/5 from 2 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Serving as a masterclass in Latin-jazz crossover appeal, this record takes Herbie Hancock's original composition and recontextualizes it with deep, infectious pachanga and boogaloo rhythms. The integration of traditional Cuban percussion alongside standard jazz horn arrangements ignited a widespread dance craze across urban dancehalls. 'Watermelon Man' cemented Santamar铆a's role as a primary ambassador of Afro-Cuban sounds in mainstream American culture.

Genres

Descriptors: instrumental, rhythmic

Tracklist

  1. Watermelon Man (2:26)
  2. Funny Money (2:13)
  3. Cut That Cane (2:22)
  4. Get The Money (3:25)
  5. The Boogie Cha-Cha Blues (2:14)
  6. Don't Bother Me No More (2:24)
  7. Love, Oh Love (2:04)
  8. Yeh-Yeh (3:04)
  9. The Peanut Vendor (3:45)
  10. Go Git It! (1:56)
  11. Bayou Roots (3:02)
  12. Suavito (2:41)
  13. Guaguanco Mania - live (3:47)
  14. A Little Dab'll Do Ya - live (7:19)
  15. Que Maravillosa - live (6:47)
  16. I'll Remember April - live (7:22)
  17. Afro Blue - live (7:01)
  18. Mazacote - live (8:24)

Credits

  • The Mongo Santamaria Orchestra - primary artist

More from Mongo Santamar铆a: full discography