Mongo Santamaria - Soul Bag (1968)

Ably supported by a cast including flutist Hubert Laws, saxophonist Sonny Fortune, and drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, conguero Mongo Santamaria rejoins the hit parade with Soul Bag, galvanizing contemporary chart smashes with the energy and fire of his trademark Latin soul -- the approach may frustrate listeners yearning for a return to the traditional charanga sensibilities that defined the percussionist's early dates for Fantasy, but there's no denying the sheer energy and infectiousness of this music. As its title promises, Soul Bag forgoes the British Invasion covers of Santamaria's other Columbia efforts to focus on the indelible soul records coming out of Motown, Stax and Atlantic -- his readings of "In the Midnight Hour," "Respect," and "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" are respectful yet ingenious, with righteously funky rhythms that intertwine with the original melodies like strands of DNA.~Jason Ankeny