Mongo Santamaria - "Sweet Love" video free download

One of the best things about Mongo Santamaria--and there were many--is that although he was a true master of Latin music, learned it from the roots up, and played with all the old-school (and many of the new-school) giants, he was always keenly aware of the musical climate around him in other arenas as well, and through each phase of his career, he also adopted into his music the new ideas that were being brought into the worlds of jazz and pop music. The most clear reflection of this was his regular and insistent inclusion of current pop hits on his albums among the standards and originals.

1987's 'Soy Yo' is a thoroughly enjoyable affair, with lots of great Marty Sheller arrangements and of course top-notch musicians. Among the more typical fare are two fun surprises: a cover of Sade's megahit "Smooth Operator" and, even more surprising, a slick and tasty take on Anita Baker's "Sweet Love." The really cool thing about it is what perfect sense it makes grafted onto a Latin beat. The piano vamp under the chorus makes for a perfect funk montuno, and it all comes together from there. Tony Hinson lays it out on the tenor with some fine and creative soloing, and it's so neat to hear this song colored a bit differently.