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. 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 playing by the local musicians is of high quality, and the ten selections are quite enjoyable. Unfortunately though, that project is combined with the cuts from Bembe, which are in a very different style. The latter project has the music performed entirely by vocalists, other than the percussion of
Santamaria and
Bobo. 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). So, overall, this is definitely a mixed bag. ~ Scott Yanow