Mongo Returns!

Mongo Returns! is an album by the Cuban musician Mongo Santamaría. It was released in 1995. The album marked Santamaria's return to the Fantasy Records label.

Production

The album was produced by Todd Barkan. Its songs were arranged by Marty Sheller. Hilton Ruiz played piano on the album. Eddie [Allen (jazz musician)|Eddie Allen] played trumpet. "Bahia" is a cover of the Ary Barroso song; "When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You" is a version of the Marvin Gaye song.

Critical reception

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called the album "marvelous Latin big band" music. The Boston Herald lamented that "the band's performances rarely rise above pleasant and competent." City Pages noted that, "rather than wallow in a groove, the tunes on CD continually shift gears, deploying the percussionists as much for texture as for rhythm and varying the pace."
The Albuquerque Journal deemed Mongo Returns! one of the best Latin jazz albums of 1995; The Chicago Citizen also listed it among the best of 1995.
AllMusic wrote that "Mongo's large ensemble sounds sharp, at home with the Latin beat, up-to-date electronic instruments and occasional skipping bassline, and Mongo thunders away with his usual polyrhythmic vigor."