by Scott YanowThis reissue CD finds Mongo Santamaria entering the boogaloo era with a variety of funky pieces that show the influence of R&B and soul-jazz without losing the group's roots in Cuban music. The infectious live set teams the conguero with trumpeter Marty Sheller, the reeds of Pat Patrick and Bobby Capers, pianist Rodgers Grant, bassist Victor Venegas, drummer Frank Hernandez, and the percussion of Chihuahua Martinez and Julian Cabrera. Such tunes as Fatback, Mongo's Groove, and Creole have happy, soulful, and simple melodies. This is one of Marty Sheller's best dates on trumpet, while Santamaira takes My Sound as a colorful unaccompanied solo. A remake of Para Ti is a welcome bonus track on this enjoyable CD.