Two early albums – back to back in a single set! First up is Mongo Explodes – a killer early album by Mongo Santamaria – almost an equal blend of jazz and Latin rhythms, and a great illustration of the unique contribution that he was making to both types of music back in the 60s! Mongo's group here is filled with some really great horn players – Nat Adderley on cornet, Marty Sheller on trumpet, Ronnie Capers on alto sax, and Pat Patrick on baritone – really hitting a hard-edged groove that's as filled with soul jazz solo inflections as it is with Mongo's great work on percussion! The reeds bring a sharp edge to the record that keeps on going throughout – pushing the set with a lot more soul than other Latin sides from the time, particularly those in the charanga mode. Most tracks are short and feisty, and titles include "Skins", "Fatback", "Dot Dot Dot", "Corn Bread Guajira", "Para Ti", "Sweet Tater Pie", and "Tacos". Next is Go Mongo – one of the best of the early Mongo LPs for Riverside, and a tight session of Latin jazz tracks by a group that includes Pat Patrick, Paul Serrano, and Al Abreu on tenor and flute. The reed parts are nice and hard, and a few tracks have vocals, but most are instrumentals. Titles include "Happy Now", "Tumba Le Le", "African Song", "Carmela", and the long groover "Congo Blue". LP, Vinyl record album