1001 Albums: #11. Sabu - Palo Congo

Sabu - Palo Congo
Blue Note, 1957



There is a fair bit of world music in this book, and I'm here for it. It's another one of my musical blind spots. Here Louis "Sabu" Martinez opens my eyes to the wild and wonderful world of the conga drum. It's pure percussion, and there's something about this recording that feels very primal. Like we are hearkening back to the dawn of time or something. Some tracks are straight up Sabu going wild slapping the skins, but the tracks where the conga serves as the base for the more traditional jazz-folk numbers were my favorites. "Rhapsodia Del Marvilloso" in particular.