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Title: Caliente
Review: I just bought the CD reissue of this: I've had the vinyl version since the '70's. It's an indispensible recording of percussion virtuousity, and since it's mostly drums (except for the work by Cal Tjader and Paul Horn) it gives Mongo plenty of room to stretch out. Plus it's like a textbook of Afro-Cuban rhythms: rhumba, guaguanco, congobel, etc.There may be some "spiritual" overtones to the drumming (like there is in almost any music), but I'd say it's mostly secular music intended to let Mongo and his mates tear it up. If you want more specifically religious Cuban drumming, try Milton Cardona's "Bembe", which is Santeria ceremonial bata drumming.
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